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Thad raised the rifle, and quick as a flash sent a 45-cal. 
ball through the hindlegs 


(Page 203) 


Four Boys on the Mississippi; 

OR THE 

Cruise of the “Greased Lightning” 


BY 

FRANK E.. KiLLLOGG 

Author of ‘‘The Boy Duck Hunters,” Etc. 



, ILLUSTRATED 

BY 

W. HERBERT DUNTON. 


Akron, Ohio 

The Saalfield Publishing Co. 

1903 CHICAGO 

— rTTTr. 


NEW YORK 




< 


THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS. 

Two Cofjibs Receivoif 

SEP 21 1903 

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.Ai-e-.ii. '9 *-3 

iCLiASS XXc. No 

65 ^ 76 ® 

COPYB i 


Copyright, 1908, 

BY 

THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY 


MADE BY 

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CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER. 

I. Buying a Houseboat . . . 

II. Afloat on The Mississippi 

III. Trapping 

IV. A New Acquaintance 

V. The Country Dance .... 

VI. Down the River 

VII. Dick and the Yellow Cat 

VIII. Quail Shooting on the Island 

IX. Tom Makes a Lucky Shot . 

X. The Tragedy in the Forest . 

XL Tom Makes Another Lucky Shot 
XIL Duck Shooting 

XIII. Jack Snipe 

XIV. Dick Turns Ornithologist 

XV. Trapping Again — Home . . 

XVI. The Buried Diamonds 


6 

33 

62 

86 

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127 

149 

170 

182 

195 

217 

235 

251 

260 

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Thad raised the rifle, and quick as a flash sent a 45-cal. 


ball through the hindlegs Frontispiece 

“Dick’s horse has balked again,” said Tom .... 78 


Qiiicklj following the report of the rifle, the eager 

watchers saw the animal make a short side jump. 156 \/ 

“ This box isn’t nearly so heavy as the other was, 

Dick,” Thad said 234 , 


CHAPTER I. 


BUYING A HOUSEBOAT. 

“Don’t move a muscle, Thad. Here comes a 
woodduck down the lake and it’s your shot.” 

The speaker, a short, handsome, chubby-faced 
boy of fifteen or thereabouts, made not the 
slightest movement as he uttered these words. 

The boy sitting beside him, a tall, slim, alert- 
looking fellow of seventeen, might have been a 
graven image for any effect the words produced. 
Not the slightest turning of the head, nor wink- 
ing of an eye; but the hands that grasped a 
handsome breech-loader lying across his lap, 
gripped the gun a little firmer. 

A moment later a bright plumaged woodduck, 
uttering the weird squealing cry of its kind, 
dashed past twenty yards distant. There was 
no swerving of its flight as it passed; to all ap- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 7 


pearances the boys were a part of the log upon 
which they sat. Although within a few feet, and 
in plain sight of the narrow wooded lake, they 
had no blind to shield them. 

The duck was several yards past ere a move 
was made. Then the tall hoy’s gun went to his 
face like a flash and swept after the speeding 
fowl. A puff of smoke j a sharp report, and the 
woodduck went end over end and splashed into 
the water, where it lay motionless. 

‘‘Go get it, Bruno.” 

At the command, a handsome English setter 
arose from a bunch of grass at the end of the log 
and walking quietly down to the water, swam 
out to the drifting duck, picked it up and return- 
ing, laid it carefully beside half a dozen others 
of its kind. 

The smaller boy showed no surprise over this 
dashing, brilliant kill. Evidently he was used to 
it. He could do the same thing himself, and 
knew it. 

The boys remained seated a few minutes 
longer upon the log, watchful and expectant, 
then the tall boy said : 

“I guess we may as well go home. We will 
hardly get any more shots as the ducks have evi- 
dently b^edded in some other lake. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I think so, ’ ’ was the reply. “We have seven 
of them, anyhow; that’s enough for one morn- 
ing.” 


8 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


The boys remained sitting a few moments 
longer and then arose to depart. 

Those of our readers who followed the for- 
tunes of Thad and Dick Kingston in “The Boy 
Duck Hunters/’ have probably suspected ere 
this that the boys are before us again, and they 
are right. 

Thad and Dick Kingston, at your service, two 
of the best all-around game shots at their age to 
be found in the country. We might add that it 
would hustle many an older hunter to compete 
with them, for they have kept in constant prac- 
tice and have grown older and stronger. Their 
muscles are firm and tough as iron, due to the 
pure country air and plenty of exercise in hunt- 
ing and fishing. They are both just as manly 
and handsome as they were a year ago when we 
left them shooting wildfowl over decoys on the 
Mississippi, in “The Boy Duck Hunters.” 

But how Thad has grown! He looks six 
inches taller. Seventeen, and almost as tall as 
his father ! 

Dick is the same chubby, good-natured looking 
fellow we left a year ago. Although he has 
grown perceptibly, he is the same jolly Dick; 
just as much inclined to joke and bother Thad. 
And there stands the grave, sedate Bruno with 
his big, brown, kindly eyes. And this is Long 
Lake, too; the place where Dick killed his first 
woodcock and then made Thad’s life a burden 
by bragging about it ever after. 


FOUR BOYS ON THK MISSISSIPPI. 9 

^^Dick, did you see Tom Evans last evening 
when you went after the mail 1 ^ inquired Thad, 
as they were walking home. 

‘‘Yes, I saw him a few minutes.^’ 

“Is he keeping his eye peeled for a boatU’ 

“Yes, he is as eager as an old woman over a 
tea party. Says he stands on the river-hank 
about half the time.’’ 

“I’m not bothering much over it. If we can’t 
buy such a boat as we want, we will build one. 
Frank Howard wrote he would be here about 
September fifteenth and this is the first. We 
have time enough,” remarked Thad. 

“I suspect Frank will bring a fancy outfit. He 
will probably have stuff enough to load a 
barge. ’ ’ 

“He will bring the best to be found in New 
York for love or money. I’ll guarantee,” re- 
plied Thad, as they started up the blutf. 

Perhaps we should explain what the boys are 
talking about. It seems, since we left them, Thad 
and Dick, together with a chum, Tom Evans of 

T , and their Eastern friend, Frank Howard 

of New York, had planned a trip on the Missis- 
sippi in a houseboat. They proposed to buy, or 
if they failed to find a suitable one, to build a 
houseboat ; have it towed several hundred miles 
up the Mississippi by a steamer ; and float back 
down the river, hunting, fishing, trapping, and 
having a general good time. 

At &st, Mrs. Kingston opposed the trip. She 


lo ' FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


could not brook the idea of the boys’ going so 
far away from home. But Mr. Kingston had so 
much faith in Thad’s and Dick’s good sense and 
ability to take care of themselves, that he was 
inclined to let them go. Besides, he thought the 
trip would prove a school of experience to them 
that would be a benefit in after life. So, among 
the three, they won Mrs. Kingston’s consent. Of 
course, like all boys getting ready for a trip of 
that kind, they talked and thought of little else, 

and the mails were kept hot between T and 

New York. 

The day previous to Frank Howard’s ex- 
pected arrival, their other partner, Tom Evans, 
came driving down at breakneck speed to the 
Kingston homestead. 

“What’s the matter, Tom? Anybody dead?” 
inquired Thad, as he and Dick walked out to the 
gate to receive their friend. 

“Dead, nothing! Jump in quick. We’ve got 
a chance to buy the slickest houseboat you ever 
laid your peepers on, ’ ’ replied Evans excitedly. 

‘ ‘ Bully ! Come on, Thad, ’ ’ shouted Dick, and 
the boys jumped into the buggy and the trio 
was rapidly whirled back to town. 

On the way, Tom gave them a few particulars. 
It seemed, a couple of young fellows, the sons of 
wealthy people who lived somewhere up North 
in an interior town, had started to make a trip 
down the Mississippi. Not being familiar 
with the river and its hidden dangers. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. ii 


and being unused to hard knocks, the 
young voyagers, by running on hidden bars 
and snags, drifting against towheads, getting 
soaked in the rain, and nearly capsizing their 
craft several times, to say nothing of headwinds 
and other drawbacks, had become so tired and 

disgusted by the time they ^reached T that 

they were both heartily sick of their adventure, 
ready to sell the boat for anything they could 
get, and take the first train home. These things 
Tom hurriedly told the boys before they reached 
town. 

‘‘Did they set a price on itU^ inquired Dick 
eagerly. 

“No. I didnT say anything about price. As 
luck would have it, I happened down to the bank 
when they came in; and the first thing, they 
asked me if I knew of anybody who wanted to 
buy a houseboat cheap. I told them there was a 
couple of young fellows living out in the country 
a ways, who had talked about buying one some 
time ago, but I didn’t know whether they had 
changed their minds or not. They told me they 
would pay for the rig if I would drive out and 
see them and ask them to come in and look at it. 
So you are getting a free ride at their expense,” 
said Tom with a chuckle. 

“But say, boys,” remarked Thad suddenly, 
“we don’t want to rush into town pell mell as 
though we were after a bargain and run down to 
the river like a lot of lunatics. If we do, the 
price of houseboats will go up in this vicinity.” 


12 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘By George, Thad, you are right. We must 
do a little figuring, ’ ’ replied Tom, checking the 
speed of the horse to a walk. 

By the time they reached the livery stable, the 
boys had figured out a plan. Tom was to lead 
the skirmish line, going down to the river in ad- 
vance, in a discouraged kind of a way as though 
he had done the best he could to get a buyer but 
had little hopes; and Thad and Dick were to 
come sauntering down a few moments later, 
looking indifferent and unconcerned. 

Everything worked admirably for the boys; 
as, fortunately, the owners of the houseboat 
were very homesick and getting more so every 
hour. They were sitting out on the forward 
decK, smoking, and looking blue and discouraged 
when Tom strolled down. 

“Did you find themT’ asked the more discon- 
solate looking one, as Tom reached the shore. 

“Yes, I finally persuaded them to come and 
look at it, but I don’t know whether you can do 
anything with them or not. They don’t seem to 
be over anxious. Here they come now, ’ ’ replied 
Tom, as Thad and Dick straggled down to the 
river about six feet apart. 

“Are you the parties that want to buy a house- 
boat?” inquired one of the voyagers eagerly. 

“I don’t know. We did talk some of it a 
month ago, but it will depend a good deal on the 
price, ’ ’ replied Thad indifferently. 

“If you have the least idea of buying one 
here’s your chance. We will sell you this one 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 13 


cheap as dirt. Come in and look her over, ’ ^ said 
one of the strangers. 

Nothing loath, the boys went inside. In size 
it was about thirty feet long and ten feet wide 
with a flat scow-shaped bottom. The interior 
was ceiled throughout, making it tight and 
warm. It was divided into two rooms; the 
larger being the kitchen, dining-room, and sit- 
ting-room, and the smaller, a cozy bedroom, pro- 
vided with two bunks each ample for two per- 
sons. The boat was furnished throughout with 
everything needed for a trip. A small but new 
cook-stove, among other things, with all the 
necessary cooking utensils; and everything of 
the best quality. Three windows on each side 
furnished plenty of light and ventilation. 

‘‘What do you want for the old tub?’’ in- 
quired Thad indifferently, after they had looked 
around inside and gone on shore again. 

Dick had made up his mind if the price was 
anything under seven thousand dollars, he would 
take it. 

“To tell the truth, boys, the way she stands 
now, she cost us nearly two hundred dollars. 
We want to sell everything but our guns and a 
few trinkets, as we want to go home and don’t 
wish to bother with packing up the stuff. You 
can have it all— boat, bedding, stove, groceries, 
and everything for forty dollars. That isn’t 
more than twenty cents on the dollar,” replied 
one of the homesick hunters. 


14 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

By sheer force of will power, Thad and Tom 
each made his countenance fall, while Dick 
nearly bit off a quarter of an inch of his tongue 
by shutting his mouth quickly enough to keep 
from saying, ‘ ‘ We will take her. ’ ’ 

‘‘Forty dollars is a good deal of money. You 
can build a pretty good-sized boat for that, now- 
adays,’^ remarked Thad with imperturbable 
gravity, without taking his hands from his pock- 
ets. 

“Not like this one, you can’t. She is built of 
the best material and is tight as a drum. Don ’t 
leak a drop,” replied one of the hunters confi- 
dently. 

Thad and Tom walked around idly, whistling 
in an unconcerned way, as though neither cared 
a cent whether he bought a houseboat or not. 
Dick was so nervous he just couldnH keep still. 
He was afraid every minute that the voyagers 
would change their minds, declare the deal otf, 
and go on down the river. Dick’s commercial 
education had been sadly neglected, and he knew 
nothing about driving sharp bargains. He asked 
the price of a commodity and, if he wanted it and 
had money enough, he bought it. Inwardly he 
blamed Thad’s and Tom’s stupidity in not 
clinching the bargain at once, before the owners 
had a chance to back out. 

“I don’t know whether we will get our money 
out of her or not, but if you want thirty-five dol- 
lars for the outfit, we will take it, and run the 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 15 


chances, ’ ’ said Thad reflectively, while Dick held 
his breath. 

‘‘What do you say, Clarence, shall we take 
if?/’ asked the larger boy, turning to his partner. 

“Yes, let her slide; and let’s take the first 
train home. I’m sick of the whole thing,” was 
the reply. 

“Any bugs or other live stock inside?” asked 
Thad, as he paid over thirty-five dollars in crisp 
bills and took a receipt. 

“Nary a bug nor insect. She was just built 
this fall. When does the first train leave?” said 
the larger boy, as he pocketed the money. 

“In forty-five minutes,” replied Tom, looking 
at his watch. 

“In forty-five minutes we will be on our way 
to God’s country,” remarked the smaller boy 
with a look of unutterable relief. 

‘ ‘ Correct, Clarence ; and the next time we take 
a trip we will go on a passenger train, ’ ’ replied 
his companion. “You see, boys,” he continued, 
as they went inside to pack up their guns and a 
few articles of clothing, “we were never on the 
river before in our lives. Hardly knew how to 
row a skitf. But somebody told us it was great 
fun to take a trip down the Mississippi; there 
was no work connected with it, just float along. 
So, like a couple of simpletons, we couldn’t rest 
until we had a boat built and tried it. We will 
go home satisfied now. It may be lots of fun for 
people who know the river and understand boat- 


i6 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


ing, but excuse me. Honestly, I haven’t worked 
so hard since I was born. You will find every- 
thing all right. We had plenty of money, and 
used the best material. There are some grocer- 
ies, two dozen steel traps, and a lot of odds and 
ends that will come handy if you want to take a 
trip. I never want to see them again. ’ ’ 

“We have learned a few things anyhow, 
George, ’ ’ broke in the other boy, as he surveyed 
a pair of hands evidently unused to labor, but 
which were now covered with callouses and blis- 
ters. 

“Yes, we learned there was a snag or sandbar 
every hundred feet, and we didn’t have a bit of 
trouble in hitting three-fourths of them. In fact, 
we haven’t done anything but push off of sand- 
bars and snags since we started, ’ ’ replied George 
facetiously, as they started for the depot to get 
their tickets. 

After the homesick adventurers had departed, 
the boys examined their new possession more 
thoroughly. They found everything even better 
than they had expected. In fact, they were tick- 
led all over with their bargain. Frank Howard 
was expected to arrive the following evening, 
and the three boys could hardly wait, so eager 
were they to show him the bargain they had 
secured. Frank’s train did not arrive until long 
after dark, and Dick, always impatient, pro- 
posed they get a lantern after he came, and show 
him the houseboat that night. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 17 

‘^Lantern, your grandmother!” said Thad. 
‘‘We wonT tell him a thing until we take him 
down next morning and show it to him. In the 
meantime we will make him believe he has got a 
job driving nails and plugging oakum for a 
couple of weeks.” 

“ThaUs so. We will give him a surprise,” 
assented Tom with a grin. 

This programme was carried out; and when 
the train bearing Frank Howard rolled into the 
depot, Thad, Tom, and Dick had succeeded in 
scraping the grins from their faces, and looked 
decorous, although Dick had to sit on his safety- 
valve to keep from blowing off. 

‘ ‘ Here he is. Hello, Frank ! ’ ’ shouted Dick. 

“Hello, Dick! Hello, Thad! Hello, Tom!” 
and Frank suddenly found use for half a dozen 
arms all at once. 

“How many trunks?” inquired Thad, after 
their friend’s arms were nearly shaken loose. 

“Only two; I didn’t bring much stuff with 
me,” replied Frank, laughing. 

“Leave them in the baggage-room until morn- 
ing. We will drive in for them after breakfast. 
We have business in town in the morning, any- 
how. Tom is going to stay with us to-night, too ; 
so we can talk things over. Come on,” said 
Thad, winking at Tom. 

“Any show of buying a houseboat?” asked 
Frank, as the quartet was driving home. 


i8 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


“I donT know of any for sale. Houseboats 
seem to be awful scarce this fall for some rea- 
son, ’ ’ replied Thad evasively, while Dick, on the 
back seat, was going through the most violent 
facial contortions in the moonlight, as if he were 
suffering with a severe fit of colic. 

“We will probably have to build one. We can 
do it all right, although I was in hopes we could 
buy one, and save the time and trouble,’’ said 
Frank. 

“How are you on driving nails, Frank?” 
asked Tom. 

“I don’t know. I never drove a dozen in my 
life, but I can learn, ’ ’ replied Frank cheerfully. 

“After you have pounded your finger nails 
black and blue, you can carry water for the reg- 
ular workmen, ’ ’ remarked Dick with a chuckle. 

“All right; I’ll do anything. You can’t scare 
me a bit, ’ ’ replied Frank, laughing. 

“Don’t let them bother you. We will get a 
houseboat some way, ’ ’ said Thad consolingly. 

“Of course we will. And I’ll show you boys 
that I can stand grief as well as the rest of you, ’ ’ 
said Frank with a laugh. 

Two or three times during the evening, Dick 
made a “break” that almost gave their surprise 
away, but a friendly, unnoticed kick from Thad, 
turned the subject in time and left Frank un- 
suspicious. 

It was midnight before the boys retired, and 
after one before they succumbed to sleep, so 
eager were they in discussing their trip. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 19 


The next morning after breakfast, the boys 
hitched up and drove to town, ostensivelv to get 
Frank’s baggage. 

‘ ‘ Suppose we walk down to the river and see 
if any houseboats have come in during the 
night,” remarked Tom casually. 

‘‘Yes, come' on, I want to see how the river 
looks, anyway,” cried Frank. 

As they strolled down to the levee, Frank 
caught sight of a houseboat lying at the bank. 
“Say, boys, there is a boat, and it looks like a 
dandy. I wonder if there is any show of buying 
it, ’ ’ cried he with sparkling eyes. 

“Why, that one was there yesterday. I 
neglected to mention the fact to you last night. 
It is a dandy, but the owners won’t sell it. They 
are going to take a trip, and you can ’t do a thing 
with them,” remarked Thad in an off-hand way. 

“Too bad. And it’s just the size we want. I 
wonder if the owners will set any kind of a price 
on it. If they will. I’ll pay the extra amount 
out of my own pocket, ’ ’ said Frank in such a dis- 
appointed tone that Dick was forced to drop be- 
hind to work off another facial contortion. 

“We might go in and see them. Perhaps you 
can get them to set a price. Thad and I worked 
with them for half an hour yesterday, ’ ’ re- 
marked Tom. Dick nearly exploded once more, 
but finally succeeded in turning it into a sneeze. 

“Yes. Let’s go in and see if I can do any- 
thing with them,” said Frank eagerly. 


20 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


So the boys filed on board, and Thad rapped 
on the door. There was no response, and Thad 
remarked : ‘ ‘ I have a key that one of them let 
me take yesterday. We might go in and see if 
they are up yet.” 

He unlocked the door and the boys walked in. 
No one was in sight, and Frank remarked un- 
suspectingly: “Maybe they have gone up 
town. ’ ’ 

“Idl tell you where they are, boys. I saw 
them all driving out in the country last night,” 
said Dick. Then he caught Tom’s eye. That 
was the last straw, and Dick, Tom, and Thad 
burst into a roar of laugliter. 

“What the dickens are you ninnys all laugh- 
ing at ? ” said Frank greatly perplexed. Then a 
light dawned upon him, and he cried : 

“Ah, I see. You scamps have bought it, and 
you are trying to play a joke on me. Hurrah !” 
and he executed a hornpipe in true city style. 

“Yes, she is ours. It was only by a scratch we 
got her, though,” said Thad. 

“How was that?” asked Frank. 

“Oh, a couple of rich young fellows up North 
started on a trip down the Mississippi. They 
got it into their heads it was lots of fun and no 
work, hut neither of them knew a thing about 
the river or handling a boat, and by the time 
they reached here, they were so homesick and 
tired out from dodging sandbars and snags, 
that they gave up the trip in disgust, sold us the 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 21 


whole outfit, and took the first train for home, ’ ’ 
said Thad, as Frank was wandering around ex- 
amining the boat. 

‘‘We thought we would find out if you had 
sand enough to think of building a boat,’’ said 
Dick. 

“I hope you will find out I have ‘sand’ before 
we get back,” replied Frank, as he walked 
around examining the various lockers and clos- 
ets for tools, clothing, et cetera, of which there 
were several. 

“You must have had to put up pretty hand- 
somely for this outfit,” he observed. 

“What do you suppose we gavel” asked 
Thad. 

“Oh, probably a hundred and fifty,” replied 
Frank, who had vague ideas about the value of 
things. 

“Just a hundred and fifteen too high,” re- 
plied Thad with a grin. 

“What! The boat and all for thirty-five dol- 
lars ! ’ ’ said Frank in astonishment. 

“That’s the size of the investment. Here is 
the receipt;” replied Thad, handing Frank the 
paper. 

“I guess it is a lucky thing Frank wasn’t here 
yesterday. Between Dick and him, it would 
have bankrupted us to buy it,” remarked Tom. 

“That’s right, Tom. If Dick and Frank had 
come down here alone, they would have insisted 
on those fellows taking about four hundred dol- 
lars for it,” replied Thad. 


22 TOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


would have depended upon how much 
money we had. W ouldn T it, Dick 1 ^ said Frank 
laugMng. 

“Altogether. They could have had my last 
dollar. I almost got St. Vitus’ dance yesterday 
waiting for Thad and Tom to strike a bargain. 
They stood around on. one leg for half an hour, 
trying to make those two fellows believe it 
wasn’t worth more than thirty-five dollars. I 
expected every minute the boys would push off 
and go on down the river. If they had, you 
would have arrived probably just in time to at- 
tend these two fellows’ funerals,” replied Dick. 

“Well we got her, anyhow. We will be snug 
as bugs in a rug, ’ ’ said Frank enthusiastically. 

“And see here, Frank. Here are dishes, and 
frying pans, and dripping pans— everything 
ready to get up a square meal with, ’ ’ said Dick, 
who had not gotten over his love of eating since 
we last met him and who, as usual, couldn’t be 
kept out of the kitchen with a stuffed club, espe- 
cially if anything were cooking. 

“Say, Frank,” interrupted Thad, “we must 
get your trunks. I want to go through them and 
see w'hat you brought along. ’ ’ 

“That’s so. I am anxious to see them myself, 
and know if everything is all right. ’ ’ 

So the quartet of enthusiastic hunters went to 
the baggage-room, loaded up the trunks and 
drove back to the Kingston residence, where 
Frank unlocked his trunks’, got out his war 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 23 

material, and exhibited it to an appreciative 
audience. 

‘‘What are you going to do with all of those 
drygoods r’ asked Dick, as Frank pulled out a 
stack of under-clothes, corduroy pants, hunting 
coats, vests, hats, et cetera— to say nothing of 
clothes for wear in civilization— enough to start 
a country store. 

‘ ‘ They will come handy. I may get wet half 
a dozen times some day and want a change, ’ ’ re- 
plied Frank, as he went on piling out goods. 

“Now you are coming to something interest- 
ing,^’ said Thad, as Frank lifted out a leather 
gun-case. 

“This is my new shotgun. The old one was 
rather light for this trip, papa thought, so I sold 
it and bought a heavier one. This one weighs 
seven and three-quarters,” said Frank, putting 
the handsome breech-loader together and hand- 
ing it to Thad for his inspection, with the re- 
mark : ‘ ‘ That is guaranteed to pull ducks from 
the clouds.” 

“Must use hornet ’s-nest wadding,” observed 
Dick, as Thad was admiring the gun. At which 
sally everybody laughed; for Thad’s and Dick’s 
adventure with the hornets had become gener- 
ally known. 

“This is for big game: elephants, lions, 
panthers, deer, and so forth,” said Frank, lift- 
ing out another case and extracting from it an- 
other gun. 


24 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

‘‘What is itr’ inquired Dick. 

•“It is a Winchester rifle; what is called the 
model of “73’^; 45-70 calibre, and a repeater. 
Shoots fifteen times without reloading. If we 
don’t get a chance at elephants or deer, it will 
come handy for geese on sandbars, as it wiU kill 
at several hundred yards. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Fifteen times 1 Whew ! ’ ’ exclaimed Dick. 

“I’ll show you how to kill geese off-hand at 
three hundred yards with this,” said Tom, 
throwing the deadly-looking piece to his 
shoulder and pointing it out of the window at 
the Mississippi. “I’ll write my name across a 
flock of geese sometime, just to show you how 
it’s done,” he added, lowering the weapon. 

“You may write your name, but I doubt if 
you write the obituary of many geese. I would 
hate to depend on what you kill with it for my 
grub, ’ ’ observed Dick. 

“I guess not either. If I took the job of sup- 
plying you, I should want two howitzers and a 
bait net, ’ ’ retorted Tom. 

“Here is something, boys, I brought along to 
amuse ourselves with. It may furnish us more 
sport than anything,” said Frank, taking out 
still another case. 

“Goodness’ sakes! More guns?” queried 
Dick in astonishment. 

“Of course. Nothing like a variety.” 

“MHiat have you now?” inquired Thad. 

“It’s a little Stevens 22-calibre, target rifle. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 25 


Fitted with both open and peep sights. You can 
drive tacks with it at seventy-five yards. It will 
be just the thing to plug squirrels in the eye, or 
mud-turtles in the ear, coming down the river, ’ ’ 
said Frank. 

‘‘That’s the stuff. She’s a daisy, and breech- 
loader, too,” said Dick, as he peeped through 
the sights. 

“Who is going to perform the tack act,” in- 
quired Tom. 

“I am, of course. Before we get back, I will 
be shooting the heads off of bumble bees,” re- 
plied Dick. 

“Or hornets,” supplemented Frank with a 
wink. 

“How much ammunition did you bring?” in- 
quired Thad. 

“I brought two thousand shells, loaded with 
9’s, 6’s, and 3’s, for the shotgun; two thousand 
for the target rifle, and five hundred for the big 
45. Is that enough, think!” asked Frank. 

“Plenty. We will have shells to throw away, 
probably,” said Thad. 

“I thought it best to get all we would be likely 
to need, at home where I could get them cheaper 
and probably better, than depend on getting 
them along the river,” said Frank. 

“Say, boys. I thunk a thought the other day 
and I believe I’ll spring it on you fellows now, 
and see how it strikes you, ’ ’ remarked Thad. 

“Better spring it in sections,” warned Dick. 


26 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


“IVe been thinking, we ought to have a song 
of our own to sing while we are on this trip. 
Something new and original,^’ continued Thad, 
looking around to see how his idea “took.’^ 

‘'That wouldn't be a bad idea; but how are 
we to get it? I don't believe any of us have 
poetic ability enough to write a song, much less 
set it to music, ' ' said Frank thoughtfully. 

“Oh, as to the music, we could use the air to 
some old song that we are all familiar with. 
The fact is, boys," Thad continued, looking 
around warily, “I have— er— that is to say, I 
have— ahem— er— ' ' 

“Put a pebble in your mouth like Demosthe- 
nes; used to, ' ' suggested Dick. 

“I was going to remark," continued Thad 
without heeding Dick's sarcasm, “that I had— 
had written a song. ' ' 

‘ ‘ The dickens you have ! ' ' said Frank. 

“For the love of Peter!" gasped Tom. 

“ ‘And the mountain labored and brought 
forth a mouse.' Thank goodness the worst is 
known, ’ ' said Dick with a sigh of relief. 

“I don't know about that. He hasn't read it 
yet," said Tom grimly. 

“Where is this etfusion, and when do you 
propose springing it on us I " queried Frank cau- 
tiously. 

“I have it right here in my left inside coat- 
pocket. And if your nerves are all right. I'll 
lock the door and read it at once," said Thad, 
making a move toward his side pocket. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 27 

All right, I can stand it if the rest can,’’ said 
Tom. 

‘‘Turn on steam,” said Frank. 

“Go ahead. But I draw the line on locking 
the door, it’s too far to the ground,” said Dick, 
walking to the window and looking down. 

Without more ado Thad pulled a paper, from 
his pocket and remarked : 

“This masterpiece is to be sung to the air of 
‘Nelly Gray.’ ” 

“Grit your teeth, boys,” warned Dick. 

‘ ‘ Shut up. He is going to read, ’ ’ said Frank. 
‘ ‘ Sing it, ’ ’ suggested Tom. 

“All right. Here goes,” said Thad. 

He then sang the following doggerel : 

We are floating down the river, four young, 
jolly hunters bold. 

Hunting, fishing, trapping, singing, by the 
way. 

We can dodge the reefs and sandbars, and we 
never fear the cold. 

We’ve a staunch and cozy boat, you hear me 
say. 

CHORUS. 

We’ll be happy, we’ll be gay; care and trouble 
get away. 

And we’ll yank the juicy musquash from his 
lair. 


28 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


We will eat him tail and feathers, and wedl top 
otf with a bass. 

We will pull the royal mallard from the air. 

When our guns boom out, the wildfowl hit the 
water like a brick 

And the pheasant, snipe, and quail turn up 
their toes. 

Well they know their time is coming, for the 
faiuine-breeding Dick 

Is among us, ever hungry, hence their woes. 

CHORUS. 

We will trap the mink and musquash, chase the 
joyous ringtailed coon 

Through the woods, and up a tree wedl make 
him hum. 

Roast him brown with sweet potatoes rich with 
gravy, what a boon. 

Gather ’round and sniff the fragrance, yum- 
a-yum. 


CHORUS. 

‘‘That’s all,” said Thad with a bow. 
“Bully!” shouted Tom. 

“That’s awful,” said Dick. 

“What do you think, professor!” inquired 
Thad, turning to Frank. 

“I pronounce it one of the ripest productions 
of the age. It is simply immense,” said Frank. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 29 


‘‘That^s the trouble. lUs too awfully ripe. 
It ought to have been picked sooner. The last 
two lines in the last verse are all right though. 
The sentiment in them is fine,’’ and Dick sang: 

‘Roast him brown with sweet potatoes, rich 
with gravy, what a boon. 

Gather ’round and sniff the fragrance, yum-a- 
yum.’ 

“Those two lines redeem the whole thing. 
Consider it accepted.” 

“I think it’s all good. We’ll make the old 
Mississippi ring with it, ’ ’ remarked Tom. 

“And say, boys,” said Thad, “if you have re- 
covered from the shock of this song there is an- 
other thing we should attend to. We want to 
elect a commander and subordinate officers.” 

“That’s so,” said Tom. 

“What title shall we invest the commanding 
officer with?” asked Frank. 

‘ ‘ How does ‘ Commodore ’ strike you ? ’ ’ asked 
Thad. 

“ ‘Commodore’ or ‘Rear Admiral’ will do; 
but what will the rest be ? ” remarked Dick. 

“Oh, captains, first mates, roustabouts, and 
so forth,” said Thad. 

“If it’s agreeable all round, the rest of you 
fellows can take the offices of Commodore, 
mates, and roustabouts, and I’ll be the ‘and so 
forth,’ ” remarked Dick. 

“Oh, there are plenty of offices to go round,” 
said Tom. 


30 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


save further parley, I propose we make 
Thad Commodore,’^ observed Frank. 

“I’ll agree to that. What do vou say, DickU’ 
said Tom, nodding approvingly. 

“I’m satisfied. Thad probably knows as lit- 
tle as any of us about ships and nautical lore 
generally. We want somebody, of course, that 
knows as little as possible,” replied Dick. 

“Then the rest of us can all be first mates, 
and swear at each other,” suggested Tom. 

“I’ll tell you a scheme, boys,” said Dick. 
“Let’s make Thad Rear Admiral and roust- 
about both, and the rest of us Commodores. 
Then Thad can boss and swear at us until there 
is some work to be done, then he can be roust- 
about and we can swear at him.” 

“I’m afraid that wouldn ’t work. Let ’s make 
Frank first mate; Dick second mate, and Tom 
purser, ’ ’ said Thad. 

“That suits me, particularly if there is going 
to be anything in the purse,” remarked Tom. 

“Well, if the offices are all settled, when do 
we start I” asked Dick. 

‘ ‘ Suppose we figure on going about the twen- 
tieth, if the ‘ Mountain Belle ’ comes along. The 
sooner we start, the more time we will have on 
the river,” said Thad. 

“Is the ‘Mountain Belle’ going to tow us 
up?” asked Frank. 

“Yes. Papa has arranged with the captain, 
who is a friend of his, to tow us up and drop 
us off anywhere we wish to start from. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 31 


‘‘Then we want to be getting ready. We 
haven’t any too much time.” 

The next few days were busy ones for the 
young hunters. They bought and stored on the 
boat everything that they had the remotest idea 
would be useful for eating, wearing, or amuse- 
ment-guns, ammunition, traps, groceries, 
clothing, bedding, et cetera. They also took a 
goodly number of books and magazines and sets 
of checkers and chessmen, for strange to relate, 
every one of the four boys could play a fair 
game of chess. Everything was loaded and 
ready the day before the Mountain Belle was 
expected, and the boys stood on the bank 
scratching their heads, trying to think if there 
was anything overlooked. 

Suddenly Tom said: “Boys, we have forgot- 
ten something.” 

“For goodness’ sakes, what can we have 
overlooked?” said Thad anxiously. 

“We have forgotten to paint a name on her.” 

‘ ‘ Sure as shooting. But we can do it yet. De- 
cide upon a name and we will have it painted on 
right now,” said Thad. 

“Call her the ‘Water Witch,’ ” suggested 
Tom. 

“Call her the ‘Thunder Bolt,’ ” said Thad. 

“Call her the ‘Water Palace,’ ” said Frank. 

“Call her the ‘Belinda Jane,’ ” said Dick. 

“We can’t call her all of those names, boys. 
And we want to decide on something at once so 
the paint can dry,” remarked Thad. 


32 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘I’ll tell you what to call her, fellows. She is 
probably as slow a craft as ever floated down 
the Mississippi. Let’s call her the ‘Greased 
Lightning,’ ” suggested Dick. 

Dick’s odd suggestioi^ struck the boys favor- 
ably, and they all acquiesced. 

“ ‘Greased Lightning’ goes then,” said Thad, 
as he started up town in search of a painter. 

His quest was successful, and before the day 
had passed the name, “Greased Lightning,” 
stood out in bold letters on either side of the 
little craft. 

The boys had picked up two good skiffs, one 
small and the other medium sized, with which to 
do their running around on the Mississippi and 
other smaller bodies of water where they might 
chance to be hunting and trapping. 

Bruno was to form one of the party, as a 
matter of course, not only as a companion, but 
also because his aid would be invaluable in re- 
trieving and finding game. 

The following day when the Mountain Belle 
arrived, she found the boys ready and eagerly 
waiting. The little houseboat* was lashed fast 
to the big steamer, adieux were said, and the 
young hunters started on their voyage. 


CHAPTER IL 


AFLOAT ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

The ride up the Mississippi was greatly en- 
joyed by the quartet of young hunters. The 
weather was fine, and they had nothing to do 
but enjoy the scenery. Past frowning cliffs and 
low wooded hills now gemmed with the brilliant 
hues of autumn, past dozens of little rivulets, 
creeks, and more pretentious rivers drained by 
the Mississippi they ploughed their way until, 
the Mountain Belle meeting with no mishaps, 
the Greased Lightning was dropped one beauti- 
ful evening at the upper end of a great forest 
and bottom, whence the boys were to start down 
the river on their long voyage. The houseboat 
was securely tied to the bank, a hasty supper 
was disposed of, and the young hunters soon 
turned in and slept like tops until morning. 

Tom had been appointed cook for the first 
week, and hardly had the sun peeped through 
the east windows when he rolled out promptly. 


34 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


built a fire, and taking down the cook-book 
began wrestling with the mysteries of getting 
breakfast. 

‘‘What’s the menu this morning, Torn?” in- 
quired Dick from the bedroom. 

“The bill of fare this morning is ham and 
eggs, bread and butter, and coffee,” replied 
Tom. 

‘ ‘ For goodness ’ sake, do you have to study an 
old cook-book to find out how to cook ham and 
eggs?” asked Thad scornfully. 

“No, I don’t,” said Tom shortly. “You just 
lie still and keep your face closed. I’m running 
the culinary department at present, if you are 
Commodore. I haven’t looked into a cook-book 
for a little over eighteen years, but this being 
the first meal aboard ship, I thought I would 
give you gents a touch of high living according 
to the illustrious authority of Hoyle. This vol- 
ume says to cut the ham six-sixteenths of an 
inch thin, parboil ten minutes, then dry with a 
cloth made of Lonsdale muslin, costing not less 
than ten cents per yard. ’ ’ 

“Does it say anything about frying the ham 
afterwards?” inquired Frank. 

“Not a word. Hold on, here is a foot-note at 
the bottom that says people who are very par- 
ticular insist on frying the ham.” 

“Does it specify at what factory the muslin 
shall be made?” asked Dick from under the 
bedclothes. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 35 


‘^Nope.’’ 

“Then we are saved. Cook me two slices 
clear across the ham, and four eggs turned 
over,’^ said Dick. 

“If you keep up that gait, Dick, you will 
either weigh a ton or be dead before we get 
home,^’ remarked Frank. 

“Don’t worry about him. His stomach is 
made of india-rubber. If eating affected him, 
the jimson weeds would have been blooming 
over his grave long ago, ’ ’ replied Thad. 

“We will eat him tail and feathers and we’ll top 
off with a bass. 

And we ’ll pull the royal mallard from the air, ’ ’ 

sang Tom as the savory odor of ham was wafted 
through the room. 

“By George, boys. I intended as much as 
could be to have sneaked out at daylight and 
caught a three-pound black lass for breakfast, 
without waking any of you fellows,” remarked 
r 'rank, as he started to dress. 

“That’s a middling plausible fairy-story for 
one so young, and especially from New York, to 
spring on a lot of old-timers,” said Thad. 

“Breakfast is now ready in the dining-car,” 
announced Tom a few minutes later. 

“What did you say the name of that gentle- 
man was you used to cook fori” asked Dick, as 
he tackled a slice of ham big as the top of a wash 
basin. 

“The Ahkoond of Swat.” 


36 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

“Could he eat any more than I canU’ 

“Of course not. Did you suppose he was an 
elephant?’’ 

“I don’t know what the rest of you fellows 
think, but I pronounce this pretty middling,” 
observed Thad, gazing out of the window at the 
crimson east. 

‘ ‘ This is doubtless the greatest event that ever 
occurred in the world’s history. That little raid 
of Alexander of Macedonia through Asia was 
tame compared to this trip, ’ ’ replied Frank. 

“Tom is such a glorious cook, I believe we 
ought to give him the office permanently, ’ ’ said 
Dick, appropriating another slice of ham. 

“I believe you won’t. You can’t jolly me up 
that way. You will all take your little whirl at 
it in due time, ’ ’ replied Tom. 

After breakfast the boys decided to drop 
down the river a mile or so, land, and explore 
the forest and bottoms to ascertain what the 
outlook was for hunting and trapping. 

The fastenings of the two skiffs were looked 
to, the lines cast off, and they were ready. 

“Already, Commodore, when you are,” cried 
Frank. 

Commodore Kingston sprang out on the for- 
ward deck and roared out: 

“Shake out the mains ’1! Loose the top- 
gal ’nts! Reef home the jib! Man the lee scup- 
pers! Haul in the knightheads! Push with 
your shoulders there; push, you lubbers, push! 
Stand by to meet her, Tom. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 37 

The Greased Lightning, however, failed to 
respond properly. She heaved a drunken sigh, 
wobbled a little, and settled back on the mud. 

‘‘What^s the matter down there? How much 
steam you carrying?’’ yelled the Commodore, 
looking over the side of the ship whore Frank 
and Hick had their shoulders against the gun- 
wale, pushing until their eyes stuck out like 
turnips. 

<< There is a whole lot of things the matter,” 
replied Hick, straightening up and wiping his 
brow. ‘ ‘ In the first place, Frank and I are try- 
ing to shove eighteen tons of mud and this old 
tub, to say nothing of you two lubbers, out in 
the river. We lack about seven hundred pounds 
of having steam enough. If you two lubbers, in- 
stead of hindering navigation, will jump off and 
get your shoulders against here, maybe we will 
get off sometime to-day. I’ve got curvature of 
the spine now.” 

‘Wou’ve got curvature of the toes. I’ll fix 
her,” cried Thad, springing ashore and seizing 
a pole. He got a pry under the Greased Light- 
ning that loosened her from the mud, and she 
slowly slid out into the stream. 

^‘Man the other sweep, Tom. Wash the 
dishes. Hick. Get out the bear-traps, Frank,” 
shouted Thad, springing on board and taking 
the forward sweep. 

‘^This is jolly, isn’t it?” said Frank, as their 
craft caught the current and started for the 
Gulf of Mexico at a three mile an hour clip. 


38 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Wonder how many sandbars wedl hit going 
downT^ remarked Dick. 

“We won’t hit them until we come to them; 
so we won’t woriy over it in advance,” replied 
Frank, going inside to look over the traps. 

“Hang onto your hat. Commodore. We’re 
going pretty fast,” remarked Dick facetiously, 
poking his head out of the door. 

“You go in and wash the dishes or you’ll get 
strung up at the yardarm,” replied the Com- 
modore. 

“We’ll be happy, we’ll be gay; care and trouble 
get away. 

And we’ll yank the juicy musquash from his 
lair. 

We will eat him tail and feathers, and we’ll top 
off with a bass. 

And we’ll pull the royal mallard from the 
air. ’ ’ 

Frank’s rich baritone took up the chorus and 
the rest joined in with a will. 

By this time the Greased Lightning was well 
out in the stream and making satisfactory pro- 
gress; so the boys fastened the sweeps and let 
her float. 

“Where do we land first?” asked Frank, 
looking up from the floor where he was sitting 
surrounded with traps. 

“In the mouth of that little river that comes 
in out of the woods about a mile below. What 
do you say, Tom?” said Thad. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 39 


‘ ‘ That The spot I picked out yesterday when 
we passed it/’ replied Tom. 

As they floated along, Dick washed the dishes, 
while the rest busied themselves getting the guns 
and traps ready. 

‘ ‘ This big repeater is what takes my fancy, ’ ’ 
remarked Tom, fondling the 45-70 affection- 
ately. 

‘‘Pooh. We’ll have four times the fun with 
the little 22. You see if we don’t,” replied Dick, 
as he hung up the frying pan and wiped off the 
table. 

“Of course we’ll do more shooting with it, 
for there is more of that kind of shooting; but 
wait till you see me fetch a big Canada goose at 
four hundred yards. Then you fellows will 
open your eyes,” said Tom, throwing the big 
repeater to his shoulder. 

“I’m afraid we’ll be waiting for the goose 
that never comes,” remarked Thad, inspecting 
some of the shells that Frank had brought with 
him. ‘ ‘ How much powder, Frank ! ’ ’ holding up 
one of the shells. 

“Those with flne shot have three and a half 
drams of the best powder, and* the coarse shot, 
four drams.” 

“I wish there were lots of big game, like bear, 
panther, deer, and so forth,” said Tom. 

“We’ll probably kill more ‘and so forth’ than 
anything else,” remarked Thad. 

“I’ll be satisfied with the ‘and so forth’ part 
of it,” said Dick. 


40 FOUR BOYS -ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Say, boys, what kind of an animal is that 
standing over on the bank watching usT’ said 
Frank suddenly. 

“Boys, I believe thaUs a wolf,’’ said Tom. 

“I wonder if it is? It don’t seem to be afraid 
of us,” remarked Thad. 

“It’s a wolf sure, and I’m going to try it a 
whirl with the 45, ’ ’ said Tom excitedly. 

‘‘Don’t make a mistake now and shoot some- 
body’s dog or you inay get into trouble. Bruno 
don’t seem to smell anything,” remarked Dick, 
patting the intelligent animal’s head. 

“That’s no dog,” replied Tom; and throwing 
in a shell and stepping softly to the door, he 
raised the rifle to his shoulder. 

An instant later a sharp report rang out, and 
the boys saw the leaves and dirt fly under the 
animal’s belly. 

The “wolf” made a bound to one side and 
stood looking mildly around as if to discover the 
cause of the trouble. Tom hastily threw in an- 
other shell and was about to raise the rifle to 
his shoulder again, when a man stepped in view, 
and shaking his fist at the boat, bawled out : 

“Say, there, you gosh blamed fools, what you 
shootin’ at my dog fur?” 

“You are in for it now, Tom,” said Frank 
with a grin. 

“In for nothing, I ain’t afraid of him,” re- 
plied Tom, and making a funnel of his hands he 
shouted back: “We thought it was a wolf.” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 41 


The owner of the canine, after contemplating 
his animal a moment, seemed to think it resem- 
bled a wolf sufficiently to make the explanation 
satisfactory, for he called the dog and they 
started otf up the hank of the river. 

‘‘Why didnT you hit him, Tom? Must have 
had the wolf ague, ’ ’ remarked Thad. 

“Probably too close. He didn’t agree to hit 
anything under four hundred yards, and that 
wasn ’t over two hundred, ’ ’ chimed in Dick. 

“I thought she would shoot over at that dis- 
tance and held a little under, but I guess it’s 
just as well I didn’t kill it,” replied Tom, look- 
ing relieved. 

“There’s our landing place, lads. Drop the 
mains ’1; haul in the flying jib; kick over the 
mizzen; yank the spanker, or I’ll spank the 
yanker,” bawled the Commodore. 

“The old man is funny this morning, the ham 
and eggs must have gone to his head,” re- 
marked Frank, scrutinizing the mouth of the 
narrow river a short distance ahead. 

“Say, Commodore, how shall we go in 
there I ” he asked, turning to Thad. 

“Sideways, like a hog at war, of course, 
Man the other sweep,” called out Commodore 
Kingston. 

“Aye, aye, sir,” replied Frank; and, obeying 
the broad sweeps, the Greased Lightning slowly 
sidled toward the west bank. In a few moments 
she slid into the mouth of the small stream and 
slowly approached the south bank. 


42 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Stand by to snub her, Tom,^’ called out the 
Commodore. 

“Aye, aye, sir,^’ replied that alert sailor, seiz- 
ing the bowline. 

The Greased Lightning grated on the sand, 
and Tom, springing lightly ashore, soon had the 
unwieldly craft fast to a tree. As he did so, a 
quacking, squealing, and fluttering accom- 
panied by a great roar of wings, attracted the 
boys^ attention, and a hundred yards up the lit- 
tle stream a huge flock of mallards, teal, wood- 
duck, gadwell, and other varieties of wildfowl 
that had been securely feeding in the mouth of 
the river, arose and were soon out of sight 
around a bend. 

“Gee, look at the ducks, boys. There’s a mil- 
lion!” called out Tom. 

“Too bad we didn’t know they were there; 
we could have crawled right on top of them,” 
said Dick regretfully, his eyes lighting up with 
old time fire as he watched the vanishing ducks. 

“Never mind, they will keep. Lower the 
staging,” shouted Thad, as he sprang ashore 
and made fast the sternline. 

As the “staging” was only a two-inch plank, 
it was soon in shape and the boys stood on shore 
taking in their surroundings. They were in the 
mouth of a little river perhaps forty yards in 
width. A great forest that had evidently never 
known the ax of the woodman, stretched up 
and down the Mississippi and away toward the 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 43 


setting sun, how far they knew not. Huge 
trees, the foliage of which almost met in mid- 
stream, sheltered the mouth of the diminutive 
river, making a secure and cozy resting-place 
for the Greased Lightning. 

‘‘Boys, how do you like the outlook for fur, 
fin, and feather?^’ asked Thad, as they stood 
on the bank and surveyed the surroundings. 

‘ ‘ It suits me all right so far. Of course we can 
tell more about it after we explore the country 
a little,^’ replied Tom. 

“We have seen the feathers, and wo know the 
fins are in the water, and I guess we will find 
some fur, anyhow,’’ said Frank. 

“Say, Commodore, now we are on land we 
can help boss and jaw back, can’t we?” inquired 
Dick. 

“Yep. You can cook, wash the dishes, and 
jaw all you want to. I’m going to kill a mess of 
ducks for supper,” replied Thad. 

“All right. Tom can cook, Frank wash the 
dishes, and I’ll jaw,” said Dick. 

“And eat,” remarked Thad, as he disap- 
peared in the cabin. In a few moments he reap- 
peared with gun and rubber boots, and said : 

“Say, boys, one of you come with me and 
we’ll explore this stream a ways and look for 
places to set the traps ; the other two can chop 
some wood and get things fixed for a camp. 
What do you say?” 

“All right. Take Frank along, and Dick and 
I will do the chores,” replied Tom. 


44 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^ ^ Get your gun, Frank, and come on and we ’ll 
do the exploring act,’^ said Thad. 

going to take the little 22 and bring 
home some squirrels for supper,” observed 
Frank, starting for the houseboat. ‘‘Say, 
Thad, what are you wearing your rubber boots 
for I ” he called out as he reached the door. 

‘ ^ Oh, I thought we might find a creek or pond 
to cross and then the boots will come in handy,” 
explained Thad. 

‘‘Why don’t you take the small skiff and row 
up the river so you can land on either side?” 
suggested Tom. 

“Maybe that would he a pious idea. What 
do you say, Frank, shall we take the skiff and 
row up the river?” inquired Thad, as Frank 
came out with his hip boots on, carrying the 22. 

“Of course. I never thought of that. Then 
we can examine both banks better for places to 
set the traps,” replied Frank in a business-like 
way. 

A moment later the boys were in the smaller 
skiff and Frank, after placing the rifle on the 
forward seat beside him, picked up the oars and 
remarked : 

“I’ll row, and you keep your eye out for 
muskrat and mink sign.” 

“That strikes me favorably, and I’ll also 
smash the first duck that tries to pass ; that’s my 
specialty,” said Thad, seating himself comfort- 
ably in the stern with the gun across his lap. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 45 


‘‘Your specialty is most anything that doesn’t 
require much work, ’ ’ observed Dick with a grin. 

“Now, Dicky, don’t give your brother away 
that way or I’ll tell the boys how you sprinted 
down the hill when you thought the skeleton was 
after you, once upon a time,” replied Thad, as 
Frank bent to the oars. 

“Don’t you two babes in the woods get lost; 
and remember, lunch is ready at noon,” and 
Tom, picking up the ax, commenced looking 
around for dry wood. 

“Got your pocket compass?” called Dick, 
making a funnel of his hands. 

A vigorous nod from both boys and they dis- 
appeared around a bend. 

“Say, Thad, I’ll bet this is a dandy place to 
catch black bass; see the minnows jumping 
along shore, ’ ’ said Frank in a low voice, as they 
quietly glided up the stream. 

“Yes, and I see them jumping along ahead of 
us in half a dozen places. No danger of run- 
ning short of fresh meat here, and if we don’t 
find plenty of mink and muskrats, to say nothing 
of coon and other varmints, I’ll he greatly 
fooled,” replied Thad. 

“How is Bruno on coon? Did you ever try 
him?” asked Frank. 

“I think not; but he will tree them all right, 
never fear. That dog knows more than any 
dog I ever saw. Sometimes I think he is more 
than half human. Why, Dick and I have had 


46 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


him retrieve ducks for half a day on the bot- 
toms, and then knock off and go over in the 
woods after squirrels. After we got in the 
timber we would say: ‘We are after squirrels 
now, Bruno; find one.’ And, sir, do you know 
that critter seemed to take in the situation in a 
minute. He would canter around through the 
woods, and in almost no time have a squirrel 
treed. And he would hold him there for half a 
day if necessary till we came.” 

“Why didn’t we think to bring him along!” 
said Frank, surveying the bank on either side. 

“Oh, there is time enough for that. We just 
want to see what the river looks like, and if 
there are any lakes near by. See ! ’ ’ Thad con- 
tinued, “there are two muskrat holes and there 
is another on that side; and say, Frank, I just 
saw a mink skip up the bank into the woods 
ahead ’ ’ 

“That’s jolly. We’ll catch a boat-load of 
fur,” said Frank, bending to the oars with re- 
newed vigor. 

“Stop rowing a minute and sit perfectly 
still, ’ ’ said Thad in a low voice a moment later 
with glistening eyes. 

Frank complied, and sat watching Thad as he 
slowly brought the gun to his shoulder and 
pointed it up stream on the left side of his com- 
panion. Suddenly his face dropped to the stock 
quick as a flash and two reports rang out in 
quick succession. 


FOUR BOYS ON TFIE MISSISSIPPI. 47 


Frank turned and saw a pair of blue-winged 
teal twenty yards above, drifting down to meet 
them. 

‘‘Good double; but why didn’t you wait until 
they passed? I thought that was the proper 
way,” remarked Frank, as they picked up the 
two plump teal and went on. 

“Too much trouble to go back after them, 
although if we had been standing on shore I 
should anyhow ; but this was a head-on shot, one 
of the easiest in the world after you once catch 
the knack,” replied Thad, as he Wew the smoke 
from his gun and slipped in fresh shells. 

“You and Dick can shoot all around Tom and 
me on ducks,” remarked Frank half regret- 
fully. 

“Oh, I don’t know. If we do, I’ll agree not to 
brag about it. Maybe you and Tom will shoot 
all around us with a rifle, ’ ’ replied Thad, laugh- 

“I practiced considerable in the shooting gal- 
leries at home before I started, but maybe I 
won’t be able to hit anything out in the woods,” 
said Frank. 

‘ ‘ There is a chance to try your skill. See that 
squirrel in the big shellbark on the right bank?” 
observed Thad. 

Frank picked up the rifle and turned in the 
direction indicated. “Where is he?” 

‘ ‘ See him, out on that limb. He imagines we 
can’t see him because his body is hidden.” 


48 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


yes; I see the gentleman now/^ and 
Frank quietly raised his rifle. The clear, tiny 
crack followed. 

‘‘Never budged him; try again, said Thad. 

“Land quietly and let me step out. The boat 
is too unsteady, ’ ^ replied Frank. 

A moment later he stood on the bank and 
again raised the rifle. At the report, a gray 
and red body came crashing down through the 
crimson and yellow leaves. 

‘ ‘ Got your work in that trip, old man. Guess 
you wonT have much trouble holding up your 
end with the rifle v shot square through the head, 
thaUs the way to knock ’em,’^ said Thad admir- 
ingly. 

Frank laughed and flushed slightly with grat- 
ified pride as he replied: “I ought to have 
killed that fellow the first shot I suppose, but I 
never had any experience shooting out of a boat. 
It wobbles so, I couldnT hit a haystack.’’ 

“Suppose we leave the skiff here and take a 
scout out through the woods. There ought to 
be some lakes around here somewhere,” said 
Thad. 

Accordingly the skiff was securely tied, and 
after carefully noting various prominent land- 
marks, the boys boldly plunged into the forest 
to the north. They had gone perhaps two hun- 
dred yards when Thad cried out: “I see water 
ahead; there’s a lake, sure enough.” 

Cautiously threading their way through the 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 49 


dense woods, the boys were soon within fifty 
yards of the south end of the lake and, securely 
hidden by a thick growth of willows and sap- 
lings, surveyed the scene. It was a beautiful, 
enchanting picture, one dear to the heart of 
every sportsman. 

Before them lay a small lake perhaps sixty ^ 
yards in width and three hundred in length, sur- * 
rounded by a tall, dense forest, now brilliant 
with crimson, yellow, green, and brown foliage. 
In fact it seemed that every color of the rain- 
bow was represented in making up the gorgeous 
colorings with which Nature loves to deck our 
Northern forests in autumn. The blue waters 
of the lake lay calm as a mirror in the soft, hazy 
sunshine that filtered through the smoky film of 
Indian summer. 

But it was the surface of the little sheet of 
water, however, that quickly caught the boys’ 
attention and caused Thad’s eyes to dance and 
sparkle with a radiant longing. Dotting its en- 
tire length were hundreds of wildfowl of almost 
every variety that migrates up and down the 
broad Mississippi. Stately mallards preened 
themselves on the banks or hunted industriously 
for acorns in the water; hundreds of blue and 
green-winged teal were strung along the shore, 
contentedly shoveling about in the shallow 
water and mud where their favorite food was to 
be found. Groups of brilliantly colored spoon- 
bills were standing on their heads, their broad 


50 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


bills far under water in an eager search for 
something to eat, while their red legs vigorously 
fanned the air in a ludicrous fashion, as they 
frantically endeavored to hold the rebellious 
end under water. Gadwells, pintails, widgeons, 
bluebills, all were represented. Bunches, pairs, 
and singles, the wildfowl were scattered over 
the lake in reckless abandon. 

A hundred yards from where the boys were 
concealed, four Canada geese swam about 
majestically, occasionally dipping their bills 
daintily in the water as though not quite sure 
that they wanted any of that kind of food. 
Probably they had spent the night in some 
grainfield and were there simply to digest a 
rich breakfast of wheat. 

‘MsnT that a sight for the gods, Frank T’ 
whispered Thad, after they had drunk in the 
scene for a brief but ecstatic moment. 

^ ‘ Gee ! But I should say so ! I would give a 
hundred dollar bill to have papa here and take 
this in; ducks; woods, colors, lake, and every- 
thing,’’ whispered Frank in a burst of admira- 
tion. 

‘‘Can you pick otf that biggest Canada with 
the 22 from here?” whispered Thad. 

“I think I can if I don’t get the goose ague. 
The gun will hold up that far, I know,” replied 
Frank with a grin. 

“Try him a whirl, anyhow. You won’t get 
the goose ague.” 


POUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 51 


Frank threw up the peep sights and taking 
careful aim through a small opening in the 
leaves, pressed the trigger. At the report, the 
big goose sprang into the air but fell back in- 
stantly ; the long, sinuous neck moved to and fro 
a few times and the big gander lay motionless 
on the water. A warning honk came from its 
mates, and they arose from the water and with 
a continuous gabbling raised their heavy bodies 
over the timber and started for the Mississippi. 

The report of the rifle had been so slight that 
only the ducks nearest the youthful hunters took 
the alarm. These flew up the lake a short dis- 
tance and again dropped into the water, looking 
about in a half frightened way as if wondering 
what the trouble was. 

‘^Good shot. Bully boy. Tom and his big 45 
will have to get a hump on themselves to beat 
that, ’ ’ and Thad gave his comrade an approving 
slap on the back. 

“I’m pretty tickled my own self, and doubly 
glad I didn’t get the goose ague,” replied Frank 
with a blush and a laugh, as he inserted a fresh 
shell. 

“So am I. But if you had, we wouldn’t have 
told the boys ; they would have roasted you the 
rest of the trip,” said Thad. 

‘ ‘ Shall we try to kill any of these ducks in- 
quired Frank. 

“Wise remark. Sensible boy. Shows you 
have had the right bringing up. Most chaps of 


52 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


your age would want to go ahead and kill every 
duck on the lake without asking any questions, 
or giving a thought as to whether we could use 
them or not,’’ observed Thad sagely. don’t 
think we had better kill many more. We can 
eat only so many and we had better shoot them 
as we want them. Let’s make a circuit of the 
lake and see what kind of tracks we find on the 
shore in the mud. ’ ’ 

As the boys stepped out from their place of 
concealment and started up the lake, the ducks 
arose like a wave ahead of them. The wildfowl 
were very tame, flocks of blue-wing teal dashing 
past them not twenty yards away. 

‘‘Go it, my beauties, we’ll need some of you 
every day,” laughed Thad, as the ducks swept 
past them in the most tantalizing fashion. 

“Gee, Thad, look at the tracks. There isn’t 
anything hut tracks here in the mud, ’ ’ observed 
Frank enthusiastically. 

“Yes. There’s mink, muskrat, coon, and 
goodness knows what else. This must be a 
favorite stamping ground,” replied Thad, ex- 
amining the various footprints. 

The boys soon came opposite the big goose 
floating on the water. 

“The next question is, can we get him?” said 
Frank, surveying his kill. 

“We’ve got to get him if we swim for it. It 
won’t be the first time I’ve swam for a duck or 
goose when I had no dog,” replied Thad. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 53 

It’s a little mite chilly, and I prefer to wade 
if possible, ’ ’ grinned Frank, as he pulled up his 
long boots to the limit and started into the 
water. 

Carefully feeling his way, he got within 
twelve feet of the big gander and halted. ^ ‘ Too 
bad. So near and yet so far,” he observed, 
turning to Thad with a comical look. 

‘ ‘ Hold on. I ’ll fix you out in a minute, ’ ’ cried 
Thad, running up the bank. In an instant he 
came back with a long, lithe sapling the size of a 
fishpole, and wading out handed it to Frank. 
^‘Can you reach him with that?” 

. ‘‘Easy,” was the rejoinder, as Frank slowly 
pulled the goose toward him and waded ashore. 

‘ ‘ Lots of ways to skin a cat. I was within three- 
sixteenths of an inch of the top of my boots. ’ ’ 

“That’s a trick I learned long ago,” rejoined 
Thad. 

The boys made the circuit of the lake, care- 
fully noting the muskrat runs, tracks, and coon 
‘ ‘ sign. ’ ’ They were around near the lower end 
of the lake again and stood on the bank a 
moment contemplating in silence the beauties of 
the scene. Just then a dozen blue-winged teal, 
closely bunched, dashed past. It was too much 
for Thad. 

“We might take home a few more ducks, I 
suppose,” he remarked without moving. 

“You want to get a move on you if you take 
any out of that flock,” rejoined Frank. 


54 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

‘‘I’ll cut a hole through them all rigl;!/’ said 
Thad confidently. 

The bunch was twenty yards past before he 
made a move. Suddenly there was a flash of 
steel, a single report, and four ducks were in the 
water, three dead and one winged. Another 
charge of shot swept across the water and the 
wounded bird lay dead. 

“You and Dick and your father certainly 
have the easiest, surest, and most graceful way 
of shooting I ever saw,” observed Frank, as 
Thad pulled up his hoots preparatory to wad- 
ing out after the ducks. 

“You will catch the hang of it after awhile. 
All we know we learned of papa,” replied 
Thad. 

“Say, Commodore, it is after eleven o’clock. 
Hadn’t we better be pointing toward home!” 
remarked Frank, looking at his watch as Thad 
waded in with the four teal. 

“I suspect so. Tom will have a fit if we don ’t 
show up for lunch. ’ ’ 

“We’ve found places enough already to set 
most of our traps, haven’t we?” inquired 
Frank. 

“Yes, and we haven’t been over a tenth of 
the ground, but we’ve seen enough to know it 
is a good place to hunt and trap, and we prom- 
ised to be back by noon, so we might as well be 
moseying,” replied Thad, as he led the way 
around the end of the lake. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 55 


As the boys struck into the woods on their 
way back to the boat, they made a detour to the 
left to see if there were any more lakes near the 
river in that direction. They soon entered a 
low swale that ran in the direction they were 
going, and Thad, like an old hunter, instinc- 
tively glanced at the soft, moist ground for 
woodcock boring. 

‘‘Look here, Frank, at the plugging. And iUs 
fresh, too. I’ll just slip in some 9’s, and maybe 
we’ll have broiled woodcock for supper.” 

Thad broke his gun and extracted the duck 
shells, and that instant a big autumn woodcock 
flashed up at his feet and dashed into the woods. 

“You won’t broil that fellow very much,” 
laughed Frank, shifting his big goose to the 
other shoulder. 

“Let the next gent try that game and I’ll 
show you,” retorted Thad with a determined 
air, as he snapped the gun together. 

Another whistling flash of brown; a sharp 
report— and the fleeing woodcock dropped in 
the swale. 

Thad killed four out of five and handed the 
gun to Frank. “Here, try your luck.” 

“Pshaw; I couldn’t hit one of those streaks 
in a week,” observed Frank, exchanging guns 
reluctantly. 

“You never will learn until you try. Don’t 
shut your left eye, and imagine you are shoot- 
ing a rifle, with plenty of time. Throw the gun 


56 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


on them as near as you can, and whale away, 
hit or miss,’’ said Thad. 

Frank tried to obey instructions, and suc- 
ceeded in knocking oft a peck of autumn leaves a 
little before their time. Three times he did the 
same thing. The fourth woodcock went straight 
down the swale almost a tail-ender. Frank took 
careful aim and dropped it at fifty yards. 

^‘I’ll quit now while my credit’s good,” he 
remarked with a grin, handing the gun to Thad. 

‘^You try to get too good aim. You must 
learn to snap shoot on these fellows, as they are 
into the brush out of sight in an instant, gener- 
ally, ’ ’ remarked Thad, taking the shotgun. 

The boys were not far from where they left 
the boat, when Thad, glancing up, stopped and 
caught Frank’s arm. ^^Hold on, I see some- 
thing. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ What is it ? ” cried Frank eagerly. 

‘‘Look at that fellow up in that big oak,” said 
Thad, pointing to a tree isolated from the 
others. 

“I see it. What is it, a wildcat?” inquired 
F’rank. 

“No; it’s a big coon. There is your chance 
to draw first blood in the fur department,” said 
Thad. 

Frank laid down the goose and raised the 
rifle. 

“Through the head now, remember, or you 
get thirty days,” said Thad. The little rifle 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 57 

cracked, and the coon came tumbling to the 
ground with a thump that jarred the earth. 

‘‘I guess we had better let you do the rifle 
shooting,’’ said Thad, as they picked up the 
coon and started for the boat again. 

^‘Perhaps, but I’ll hit something with the 
shotgun yet. ’ ’ 

On the way to the boat, Frank shot three more 
squirrels, making in all quite a respectable load 
of game. 

“Look at the big shellhark hickory nuts, and 
they are all right to shuck, too,” remarked 
Thad, when they were within a few yards of the 
boat, stopping under a hickory and picking up a 
hickory nut almost as large as a Bartlett pear. 

Thad filled one of the pockets of his hunting 
coat with nuts to show Tom and Dick ; then they 
loaded their game into the boat and leisurely 
started down the little river. 

“I guess the boys have dinner ready, I see 
they have a fire going,” remarked Frank, who 
was in the stern. 

“You can bet Dick will see to the dinner,” re- 
plied Thad with a grin. 

“Houseboat ahoy!” cried Frank when they 
were within a few yards of their floating home. 

“Ahoy your own self. What luck!” and 
“Hello! Did you two infants get back safe!” 
from Tom and Dick in a breath. 

“Of course we got back safe and had all kinds 
of luck,” replied Thad, as they climbed out. 


58 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Geese, ducks, woodcock, squirrel, and coon. 
I should say you did find something. You fel- 
lows are all right, and have earned your din- 
ner, ^ ’ remarked Toih, looking down into the bot- 
tom of the skitf. 

“Gee, Tom. Wedl have a variety now, 
sure,’^ said Dick, as the boys handed up the 
game. 

^ ‘ Dinner will he ready in a few minutes, ’ ’ an- 
nounced Tom, as they all went into the cabin. 

While they discussed the meal with youthful 
appetites, Thad and Frank told of what they 
had seen and done. 

“So Frank is a dead shot with the rifle, ehF’ 
said Tom, glancing quizzically across the table 
as he stirred his coffee. 

“That^s what he is. He’s a dead shot from 
way back, and if you don’t mind your eye he’ll 
kill more with the little 22 than you will -with 
the 45,” replied Thad promptly, as he vigor- 
ously attacked the viands. 

“I’m not half as dead as Thad is with the 
shotgun, especially on woodcock. I would just 
as soon try to hit a rubber ball on the bounce, ’ ’ 
replied Frank. 

“Did you see many of them?” asked Dick, 
passing his cup for more coffee. 

“The swale we came down was full of them 
and I suppose there are lots of other places just 
as good,” said Thad. 

“Your Uncle Timothy will have to show you 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 59 


how to kill woodcock, proper,’’ remarked Dick 
complaisantly. i 

‘‘Are you a woodcock shot, too?” inquired 
Frank innocently, knowing nothing of Dick’s 
nagging Thad about their first experience. 

“Ask Thad,” replied Dick, winking at his 
brother. 

Thad dropped his knife and fork and lifting 
his finger impressively, said: “Now look here, 
Dick Kingston, you are my dear brother and I 
love you, except when you switch over on the 
subject of woodcock. I want to warn you right 
here that if you persist in dragging in that dod- 
blamed old, frayed-out yarn with more embel- 
lishments, about killing accidentally that wood- 
cock at Long Lake, I’ll— I’ll throw you to the 
fishes. ’ ’ 

“I’ll go you one better and throw the fishes 
to you; come here,” said Dick with a good na- 
tured grin, arising from the table and lifting the 
cover from a pan. The boys crowded around, 
and Frank, forgetting all about woodcock, cried 
out : ‘ ‘ Christopher Columbus ! If there aren ’t 
four of the finest black bass I ever set my peep- 
ers on. Gee, aren’t they beauties. Where did 
you catch them?” 

‘ ‘ Oh, Tom and I weren ’t asleep if we did stay 
at home and do the drudgery, ’ ’ said Dick, going 
back to his interrupted dinner. 

“I should say not. Did you weigh them?” 
remarked Frank. 


6o FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^‘Sure thing. They averaged a strong three 
pounds apiece, didnT they, Tom? Small 
mouth, too.’^ 

‘‘Dick is giving it to you straight, hoys,’’ said 
Tom. 

‘ ‘ That is my game, ’ ’ exclaimed Frank enthu- 
siastically. “I would rather capture one of 
those fellows than eat strawberry shortcake 
when I’m hungry.” 

“Well, that depends. I like to fish, but I like 
straw‘berry shortcake, too,” observed Dick. 

“No remarks are necessary on that score. 
We know vou,” said Thad. 

“Tell me where you caught them and I’ll 
agree to fill you up with bass clear to the neck,” 
said. Frank.-. 

“Hold on, Frank. Don’t make any rash 
promises. You couldn’t fill him up if you fished 
steady until it froze, and kept Tom cooking all 
the time,” said Thad. 

“Go ahead, Frank, and I’ll back you. I’ll put 
half a pound of salt on every fish and we’ll 
finally fill him up on river water,” laughed 
Tom. 

“It’s a shame the way I’m abused about eat- 
ing. I think I’m a small eater,” said Dick try- 
ing to assume an injured air. 

“It depends on what class you go in,” said 
Thad. “You eat a little more than a horse and 
not quite as much as a rhinoceros.” 

“Well, say, boys, not to change the subject. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 6i 


hadn’t we better get a move on ns and set the 
traps this afternoon?” said Tom, springing np 
from the table. 

‘ ^ That ’s the talk. I second the motion, ’ ’ cried 
Frank. 

It was finally agreed that Thad and Tom 
should set traps over the route the boys had 
been in the morning, leaving Frank and Dick 
to wash the dishes and set things to rights, and 
then skirmish where they pleased. 


CHAPTER HI. 


TRAPPING. 

After Thad and Tom had loaded the traps 
into the boat and started up the river, Frank and 
Dick fell to and washed the dishes and straight- 
ened things to rights. Then Frank remarked: 

suppose it would he a good idea to clean 
some of this game. ’ ’ 

guess we had better. The boys donT 
expect us to, so we will surprise them. Lucky 
we filled the icebox with ice from the Mountain 
Belle. It will help keep our game so much 
longer, and it won’t melt very fast now, espe- 
cially here in the shade of these great trees ; it is 
like being under an umbrella, ’ ’ observed Dick. 

First they skinned the raccoon and stretched 
the pelt properly. Then the squirrels, wood- 
cock, goose, and ducks were attended to. 

‘‘Gee, but ain’t these teal fat? They’re just 
like balls of butter. Say, Frank ; pick your duck 
the other way. Pick toward the tail and then 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 63 

you won’t be so apt to tear the skin if the bird 
is young and tender. ’ ’ 

“Correct. When I don’t do things right, just 
tell me. I’m a tenderfoot and have to learn,” 
replied Frank, changing ends with the duck. 

It was quite a job cleaning all of the game, 
and the afternoon was well spent when the boys 
finished their self-appointed task. 

“How do you like this kind of a trip!” asked 
Dick after they had washed their hands and 
were resting. 

“I think it is just grand. You and Thad 
don’t know what you have got, living out in the 
country where the fishing, hunting, and trap- 
ping; the woods and lakes and birds are right 
under your noses. I tell you what, it gets 
mighty monotonous, hearing the rumble and 
roar of street cars and staring at miles of brick 
and stone every day of your life. Of course, 
they tuck in a little dinky park here and there, 
but it is about the size of a washtub and laid 
out exactly by rule as though it was made to 
order, like a suit of clothes. It gets tiresome. 
It isn’t much like the scenery along the old Mis- 
sissippi by a long shot. I’ve just been aching 
for a trip of this kind.” 

“Seems to me I wouldn’t like living in a big 
city, either,” remarked Dick. 

“You would have to live there if your folks 
did. Papa has been thinking of buying a place 
out in the country, for he likes to hunt and fish 


64 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


as well as I do. I shouldnT be surprised if he 
got one along the Mississippi. I hox>e he will. 
If he does, I ^11 spend more time out here than I 
do in New York, you may be sure.^^ 

‘^This country suits me all right,’’ remarked 
Dick contentedly. ^‘But say, Frank,” he con- 
tinued, ^ ^ I promised to show you where I caught 
those big bass.” 

‘^That’s so, and we haven’t much time, 
either,” replied Frank, springing energetically 
to his feet. 

‘‘Come on then. We’ll take the minnow seine 
and catch a few minnows out on this little bar, ’ ’ 
said Dick going into the cabin after the seine. 

One haul furnished all the minnows needed. 
These the boys placed in a minnow bucket, and 
Dick said: 

“Ready, now. It’s about two hundred yards 
down along the main shore. Hold on. We had 
better tie Bruno up at the houseboat to watch it, 
although I don’t suppose anything will bother. 
Come on, Bruno.” Bruno submitted patiently 
to being tied, and only cast a beseeching look, 
supplemented by a mournful whine, after the 
boys as they trudged off down the river. 

“Now walk easy and talk low, bass are the 
easiest thing frightened in the world,” re- 
marked Dick. 

‘ ‘ I know it. I ’ve fished for them a good bit, ’ ’ 
replied Frank. 

“It’s getting pretty late in the season, too. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 65 

We wonT catch them much longer, especially if 
it turns cold,^’ said Dick, stopping to hold a 
bended sapling for Frank to pass. 

A moment later he whispered, ‘‘Here is the 
place. The bass lie under the bank. ^ ^ 

Where the boys stood, the bank was perpen- 
dicular to the river four or five feet below, 
whose waters were deep and still with a stiff 
current. A hundred yards from shore ran a 
long, narrow wooded island now fast crimson- 
ing with the hues of autumn. 

“Don’t let your reel click,” whispered Dick, 
as they rapidly jointed the rods. 

Frank hooked a big, frisky minnow and, 
quietly dropping it over the bank, trolled it 
gently along within a few inches of shore. An 
instant later there was a commotion in the still 
waters, a boiling swirl, as a bass made a dash 
for its supper. Dick saw a quick wrist move- 
ment and knew that the fight was on ; he there- 
upon suspended operations and became an in- 
terested spectator of the battle. 

Here and there, in and out, the fierce, fighting 
bass tried every known antic to free its jaws 
from the obnoxious hook, but in vain. The 
young angler was alert and handled his rod like 
a veteran. 

A few vindictive rushes, and the bass failing 
to get free grew sulky and “wouldn’t play,” 
causing Frank to wonder what the next dodge 
would be. A slight tightening of the line caused 


66 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


the bass to change its mind, and then came an 
unusually vicious rush, ending with a wild leap 
for freedom. Straight for the clouds went the 
big fish, shaking its head at the height of its 
leap as a terrier shakes a rat. 

‘‘No use to try that dodge, old man, I’m onto 
you,” muttered Frank grimly. 

“Keep a taut line, Frank. If you lose him 
I’ll lick you,” cried Dick, beginning to get ex- 
cited. 

But even a big bass will get tired after a 
while, and Frank began to look about for the 
best way to land his quarry. A few yards below, 
the bank dropped to within a foot of the water, 
and thither the young angler led his tired fish, 
whispering to Dick: “Have the landing net 
ready now. ’ ’ 

In less time that it takes to tell it, the gamy 
fish lay along shore. Dick slipped the landing 
net under it and, lying on the ground, it gasped 
a last defiance at its captors. 

“It was worth coming clear from New York 
for that fight,” said Frank, surveying the mag- 
nificent proportions of his catch with a satisfied 
look. 

“He’s a beauty and no mistake,” replied 
Dick. “But say, Frank, although I would like 
to wet a line, I believe we ought to go back and 
start supper. It is getting late and the boys 
will be tired and hungry. What do you say?” 

“I’m agreeable. We know where they are 
now.” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 67 


On their return to the houseboat everything 
was quiet and Bruno dozing lightly. 

‘‘Thad and Tom haven T showed up yet/’ 
said Dick, unlocking the door and untieing the 
delighted Bruno. “Now what shall we have for 
supper I Tom is cook, but we’ll start things 
going. ’ ’ 

“Better have the woodcock for supper and 
the bass for breakfast, hadn’t we?” said Frank, 
putting away his split bamboo. 

“That hits me,” was the reply; and when 
Thad and Tom returned they found supper well 
under way; the tea-kettle singing merrily, and 
the birds ready to broil. 

“Hello. This smells cozy. We were wonder- 
ing if you lads would have gumption enough to 
start supper. AYhew, I’m tired,” said Thad, 
throwing himself into a chair. 

“You will discover before you get through 
with us that we have gumption enough for any- 
thing. Go over and take a peep at that Microp- 
terus Dolomieu that Frank caught,” replied 
Dick, as he put the stovelid under the steaming 
tea-kettle. 

“The what?” asked Tom in amazement, look- 
ing around the cabin. 

‘ ‘ Oh, excuse me. I thought you knew a thing 
or two, but I see you are a dunderhead, like 
everybody else, ’ ’ observed Dick. ‘ ‘ I mean that 
big bass over there. ’ ’ 

“Don’t make any more cracks like that. 


68 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


young fellow, or I’ll take a fall out of you and 
eat your woodcock in the bargain,” replied Tom 
severely. 

‘‘I don’t mind about the fall, but please don’t 
eat my woodcock, for I’m hungry.” 

^^Gee, ain’t be a thumper. What does be 
weigh?” inquired Tom. 

“Tell you later,” said Dick, booking the 
scales into the fish’s gill. “Just three and a 
quarter. One quarter better than mine.” 

“Did you get the traps set all right?” Frank 
asked. 

“Everything is in shipshape, and loaded for 
bear. We ‘ expect a boatload of fur in the 
morning,” replied Thad. 

After supper Tom said: “Come on, Thad. 
Get out the chess board and try your favorite 
Evans’ gambit on me. Dick and Frank can 
take the other board and see who is the best 
man in the kindergarten game.” 

“Huh, smarty,” scornfully retorted Dick, 
who was quite conceited over his abilities as a 
chess player. 

The quartet played chess until Dick, while 
waiting for Frank to move, yawned so amply 
that Tom cried out: 

“For Heaven’s sake, Dick, the next time you 
yawn that way, hang a lambrequin over your 
mouth. I could see what you had for supper.” 

“Or a tablecloth,” suggested Thad. 

“I’m going to bed,” said Dick. “Frank is in 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 69 


such a tight hole he can’t get out without losing 
his queen. Give it up, Frank, and let’s go to 
bed. ’ ’ 

“All right; I’m no good.” 

“Mate,” called Thad. “Kingston brothers 
get first blood on chess.” 

“I had you beaten if I hadn’t been so sleepy,” 
replied Tom as he prepared for bed. 

“Of course. That’s what Dick always claims 
when I beat him.” 

“You don’t beat Dick any oftener than he 
does you, my son. So stop bragging and go to 
bed,” retorted that individual from the bed- 
room. 

The next morning Dick opened his eyes, 
stretched, until he almost loosened some of his 
joints, gave a prodigious yawn, and remarked: 

‘ ‘ Come, Frank, roll out. The early bird gets 
the worru, and it’s after sunrise. Hello ! Frank 
isn’t here. Say, boys, has my partner got over 
into your bunk 1 ’ ’ 

“Nope. Haven’t seen or heard a thing of 
him, ’ ’ replied Tom, springing out of bed and be- 
ginning to dress. 

“Maybe he has gone out to take a plunge 
bath in the Mississippi,” observed Thad, who 
had awakened and was yawning and dressing. 

All at once Tom raised his head in a listen- 
ing attitude. 

“Hark. I thought I heard a cry; it sounded 
like ‘help.’ ” He stepped to the door and flung 


70 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


it open. As he did so, the boys heard faintly but 
unmistakably the cry : ‘ ‘ Help ! Help ! ’ ’ 

Instantly the quick witted Dick cried out : 

‘‘Idl tell you what the matter is. Frank has 
gone after those bass and fallen in the river. 
Hurry up, boys. Come on, Bruno,’’ and Dick, 
hatless and coatless, dashed out of the cabin 
and down through the woods in the direction of 
the place where he and Frank were fishing the 
evening before. 

He had not taken ten steps when a canine 
meteor shot past him and Bruno dashed ahead. 

Tom caught up a short coil of half-inch rope 
that was lying on deck, and he and Thad sprang 
ashore and swiftly followed. 

‘‘Sprint, Tom, if you ever did,” cried Thad, 
as they dashed along, leaping logs and dodging 
bushes. 

Their longer legs and greater strength car- 
ried them to Dick ere he was half way there. 
“Straight ahead; right down there,” cried 
Dick, pointing in the direction of the fishing 
grounds, as Thad and Tom went by. 

When they arrived on the bank a strange 
scene was presented to their gaze. Ten feet 
from the steep bank, out in the deep, cold waters 
of the Mississippi was Bruno, gallantly swim- 
ming for shore while Frank, his head just above 
water, was clinging to the shaggy hair on the 
brave dog’s back. 

“The dog don’t seem to make any headway. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 71 

What’s the matter Frank?” cried Thad anx- 
iously. 

^ ‘ My foot is fast in a snag. Hurry up, boys, 
Hm about gone,'' called Frank faintly. 

Quick, Thad! Take this end of the rope," 
shouted Tom, and a second later he leaped into 
the river. Catching Frank by the arm he cried : 
^‘Now pull." 

Thad pulled until he threatened to disjoint 
Tom's or Frank's arm, but in vain, the old 
death-trap beneath the water held fast and re- 
fused to yield up its prey. 

^‘No use, Tom. My foot is there for keeps. 
Don't drown . yourself trying to save me; I 
can't keep my head above water much longer," 
said Frank in a weak, exhausted voice. 

‘M'll see that your head is kept above water 
as long as mine is, ' ' replied Tom grimly. 

Bruno, loosened from Frank's grasp, was 
swimming about evidently wondering what the 
matter was. At this juncture Dick came run- 
ning up to the bank. 

“Here, Dick, jump out here quick and hold 
Frank up while I dive down and loosen his foot. 
It's caught in a snag," called Tom. 

Without an instant's hesitation, Dick leaped 
into the river, and held Frank up by vigorously 
treading water. Then Tom, a regular eel in 
the water, disappeared beneath the surface of 
the river. It seemed to Thad, standing on the 
bank, rope in hand ready to pull, and every 


72 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


nerve on edge, that Tom was under water a 
quarter of an hour. As the seconds glided by 
and Tom did not appear, the suspense became 
almost agonizing. Thoughts of their trip 
flashed through Thad’s mind. What a conge- 
nial party they were, and what a happy, jolly 
time they were having. And now it was all to 
end with the tragic death of one or more of their 
number. He was in that state of mind when 
every second is a minute, and every minute an 
hour. 

Just as he had made up his mind that Tom 
had also been fastened beneath the water and 
drowned, a few bubbles appeared on the sur- 
face. Then Tom’s head popped up; there was 
a mighty snort as he exploded the air from his 
lungs and said: 

<< There, it’s loose now. Pull us in down at 
that low place.” 

The revulsion in Thad’s feelings, the intense 
relief and delight he felt at seeing Tom and 
hearing him say that Frank was free, made him 
feel that he could pull a tree up by the roots if 
necessary ; and he pulled Tom, Frank, Dick, and 
Bruno in to the low bank and helped them out 
of the water, wishing they weighed a ton or two 
more so he could exert himself and work off his 
surplus energy. 

‘‘Gee, boys. I’m chilled through and weak as 
a cat,” said Frank, as he lay on the ground and 
breathed a sigh of relief through his chattering 
teeth. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 73 

“Bear a hand, Thad, and we’ll carry him to 
the boat,” said Tom. 

“Stand back, I’ll attend to him. I feel tickled 
enough to carry a cow,” replied Thad; and 
picking Prank up as though he weighed only ten 
pounds, he threw him over his shoulder and 
marched off, while Dick scampered ahead to 
build a fire. 

Thad w^s half way to the houseboat with his 
burden when Prank said : 

“Hold on, Thad. I can walk now. This jolt- 
ing has set my blood to circulating again. ’ ’ And 
Thad, pretty tired in spite of his superabun- 
dance of energy, eased Prank down and took his 
arm. 

On their arrival, Dick had a fire going, the 
tea-kettle on, and was rapidly changing his wet 
garments for dry ones. An operation Tom was 
not slow in following after he and Thad had 
helped Prank undress, rubbed him with a coarse 
towel, and put him to bed. 

“Now the first thing on the docket is to make 
Prank a cup of hot, strong coffee, then we ’ll all 
have a good hot breakfast of black bass, bread 
and butter, coffee and eggs ; then I can jump a 
ten-rail fence,” said Tom briskly, starting to 
work. 

In a short time Prank was outside of a steam- 
ing cup of hot coffee, and soon after, Tom an- 
nounced the fact that breakfast was about 
ready. 


74 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Boys, did you notice Bruno? He stood by 
the door for five minutes after we came in, wait- 
ing, I suppose, to see if there was anything more 
for him to do. He has just concluded that 
everything is all right again and laid down to 
wait for breakfast,’’ said Thad. 

“Bless his old four-legged heart, he is a 
trump,” said Dick, giving his shaggy friend a 
hug. 

“He is a trump, surely. He saved my bacon 
until you boys came, ’ ’ said Frank, who, invigor- 
ated by the coffee, had arisen and was putting 
on dry clothing. “What will you take for that 
fellow, Dick? Name your price,” he continued 
as he came out of the bedroom. 

“Frank Howard, if you hadn’t just been 
dragged back from a watery grave, I’d lick you 
for even asking such a question. What would 
I take for him? What would you take for your 
mother, or your brother?” replied Dick indig- 
nantly. 

“Beg your pardon, Dick. It was a fool ques- 
tion to ask. I didn’t stop to think. Of course 
you wouldn’t sell him; but remember, Bruno, 
your new friend will never f6rget you, ’ ’ replied 
Frank, his eyes moistening as he stooped to give 
the brave dog a loving pat. 

When they were seated at the breakfast table, 
Tom said: 

“Now tell us how you happened to get in such 
a queer fix.” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 75 


‘ ‘ There isn T much to tell, ’ ’ replied Frank. ^ ‘ I 
chanced to awake early, so I thought I would 
steal a march on you fellows and catch a string 
of bass before breakfast. I gave Bruno a pat as 
I went out and told him to keep still. He just 
tapped the floor two or three times with his tail, 
and grinned— or seemed to. I think he knew 
what I was after. ’ ’ 

^ ^ By the way, did you catch any fish 1 ’ asked 
Dick. 

‘‘Yes, I killed five nice ones, and was just 
having more fun than anybody, all by myself. 
I had the sixth one hooked and was playing him 
when I stepped a little too near the edge of the 
bank. It happened to be a spot that had washed 
out underneath, and the next thing I knew it 
gave way and I was floundering around in 
twenty feet of cold water. I wasn’t a bit scared 
for I am a good swimmer, but in kicking about, 
my foot got caught in that old sunken snag and, 
pull and twist as I might, it wouldn’t let go. I 
must have been in the water ten minutes before 
I yelled, but I was getting so cold and numb that 
I just simply had to do something. I could 
hardly keep my head above water. Then I 
heard a crashing through the brush and in a sec- 
ond more, Bruno stood on the bank. I just 
looked up and said : ‘Help, Bruno, I am drown- 
ing.’ And do you know, boys, I believe that 
dog understood what I said, for he jumped out 
in the river as Tom and Dick did and I caught 


76 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


hold of the hair on his neck, and he turned and 
tried to drag me ashore, but he couldnT phase 
meP’ 

‘‘No wonder,’’ broke in Tom. “The heel of 
your shoe was caught in a crotch like a boot- 
jack and your toe under another limb. A skiff 
might as well try to tow a raft up stream. Why, 
I had to break otf one of the limbs of the crotch 
when I was under water before I could loosen 
your feet.” 

“How long do you think you were under 
water, Tom?” asked Thad. 

“Oh, I don’t suppose it was over a minute.” 

‘ ‘ It was the longest minute I ever put in. It 
seemed to me half an hour before you showed 
up. It wouldn’t take many such minutes to put 
gray hairs on a fellow, waiting as I was,” re- 
marked Thad. 

‘ ‘ What became of your pole 1 ’ ’ Dick inquired. 

“I don’t know. I never saw it after I went 
down. If the hook was fastened good, that bass 
is probably towing it around somewhere out in 
the Mississippi.” 

“Well, thank goodness, we are^ out of the 
scrape all right. Now, Thad, you and I had 
better run the traps while Dick washes the 
dishes, and Frank can rest after his frolic. 
Then we will all have a skinning bee, provided 
we catch anything, ’ ’ said Tom, arising from the 
table. 

“That’s so. I had forgotten the traps in this 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 77 


mix-up. Let^s get a hump on ourselves/’ re- 
plied Thad, putting on his rubber boots. 

“Half the muskrats will have their legs 
twisted otf before you fellows get there,” said 
Dick. 

“I guess not. We set the traps so the rats 
will be pretty sure to drown themselves,” re- 
plied Tom, who had trapped more than any of 
the boys and was consequently looked upon as 
an authority. 

“Wonder if we’ll need a gun,” said Thad. 

“Don’t suppose we will,” replied Tom. 
“Seems as if we ought to have a gun of some 
kind, though. This is a strange country and 
we don ’t know what we may have in the traps. ’ ’ 

“Let’s take the 22 along, and if we get a 
grizzly bear or something too big to kill with a 
club or the hatchet we can shoot it in the eye, ’ ’ 
remarked Thad. 

“If you find anything too big to kill with a 
club, you will probably both come shirt-tailing 
through the woods after Frank and me and the 
45,” observed* Dick. 

“Oh, I don’t know. We’ll risk the 22, any- 
how,” said Tom, as he climbed into the sldtf. 

The boys had only a short distance to go up 
the stream before they came to the first trap, 
where they took out a muskrat. 

“Score one,” said Thad, as he threw the rat 
into the boat and reset the trap in the runway 
leading into the bank. 


78 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 


Five muskrats and two mink were taken from 
the traps along the river ; then they landed and 
started for the lake where the balance of the 
traps were. 

‘‘Gee! There are more ducks than ever on 
the lake,’’ remarked Thad, as they walked out 
on the shore and started up the lake, the great 
body of wildfowl arising and circling in all 
directions as the boys appeared in view. 

Most of the traps were sprung or had some- 
thing in them. Fifteen muskrats, four mink, 
and two coons the boys took from the traps on 
their trip around the lake. 

‘ ‘ Gee I we ’ve got a load. Wish we didn’t have 
the rifle now,” remarked Tom, as they arrived 
at the foot of the lake again and threw down 
the back-load of fur to rest a moment. 

“We’ll make it all right; it isn’t far to the 
boat. We may get another coon on the way 
back, you know we have four traps in the tim- 
ber,” said Thad. 

“That’s so,” replied Tom, shouldering half 
of the load that they had tied together with 
strong twine to facilitate carrying, and starting 
on. 

Sure enough, the first two traps each held a 
raccoon. 

“If we find many more, we will have to make 
two trips, if it isn't far,— we’re loaded to the 
guards now,” said Tom, as he put a quietus to 
the coon in the second trap. 



Dick’s horse has balked again, 


said Tom 
(Pnge 154) 



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FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 79 


The third trap was unsprung. The last trap 
had been set in a ditch or gully near the mouth 
of a hole in the bank. As the boys neared it, 
they heard a rustling and the clank of the chain. 
Tom stopped. 

‘‘Hold on, Thad. WeVe got something, and 
.it isn’t a coon either. It’s an ugly-looking cus- 
tomer. ’ ’ 

“What is it?” asked Thad, peering through 
the bushes. 

“I can’t tell for sure. Whatever it is, it has 
come the full length of the chain to meet us. ’ ’ 

The boys eased down their burden and step- 
ped to where they could get a good view of the 
animal. At sight of the tawny, dirty, gray 
hide, the supple, sinewy legs, both boys recog- 
nized it at a glance. They had seen ma^y of 
the same species in the rocky blutfs at home. 

“It’s an old tom wildcat,” said Thad. 

“Yes, and he is a whale, the biggest one I 
ever saw. And say, Thad, the trap only has 
him by the toes of one hind leg. If we try to kill 
him with a club he may pull loose. I ’m going to 
shoot him,” said Tom, cocking the rifle. 

“All right; paste him. It’s the quickest way, 
anyhow. ’ ’ 

An instant later a 22 bullet crashed into one 
of the glaring yellow eyes and passed clean 
through the head. The head merely quivered 
as the cat sank to the ground and remained 
motionless for a few seconds; then an upward 


8o FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


leap as the reaction came, and for a brief time 
the boys witnessed a series of ground and lofty 
tumbling that would have shamed an acrobat. 
When its struggles bad ceased and it lay 
motionless, the boys walked up and examined 
the homely beast. 

‘‘See ; the foot was caught fairly, and the crit- 
ter has pulled and twisted until only two toes 
are in the trap,’^ remarked Tom. 

“ThaUs so. A little while longer, and we 
would have had a few reminders in the way of a 
few hairs and a toe or two,’’ replied Thad. 

‘ ‘ Gee, he ’s nearly as long as I am ; I ’ll bet he 
would make a nasty fight,” said Tom, holding 
their prey up by the hind leg after they had 
taken it from the trap. 

Both boys were glad when the river was 
reached and their burden deposited in the boat. 

“Jocks, but my shoulders ache. That was a 
big load I’m telling you,” remarked Thad, 
twisting his shoulders about to get them in a 
natural position again. 

“If we are going to catch this amount every 
morning, we will take more help along,” said 
Tom, seating himself and taking the oars. 

They arrived at the boat without any mishap, 
and Frank and Dick, hearing the dip of oars, 
came out with the usual salutation : 

‘ ‘ Hello. What luck ? ’ ’ 

“Oh, just middling. We have work enough 
for you lads to do the balance of the day,” re- 
plied Thad climbing on deck. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 8i 


^^^Rats, mink, coon, and whaUs that big gray 
critter with his eye knocked out!’^ asked Dick, 
eyeing the catch. 

‘‘Wildcat. DonT you recognize an old 
friend! Had to plunk him in the eye with the 
22. Only had him by two toes. I’ll have to 
admit the 22 is all right, Dick.” said Tom. 

‘ ‘ Of course it is. I know a good thing when 
I see it,” said Dick, looking wise. 

“Does it make you think of old times, when 
you went down the bluff a mile a minute to get 
away from that old skeleton in the cave!” in- 
quired Thad with a wink. 

“Yep. To tell the truth, it does,” admitted 
Dick candidly, “and if I had been in Tom’s 
place I would have put a bullet in the other eye 
just for old times’ sake, to pay for the scare 
that cat gave me in the cave. But that don’t 
alter the fact that dinner is almost ready and 
I’m hungry.” 

“Did you go and get your bass that you left 
on the bank when you took your bath this morn- 
ing, Frank!” inquired Thad, as he was taking 
off his rubber boots and getting ready for din- 
ner. 

“Yes, we got ’em,” interposed Dick. “I tied 
a rope to Frank’s leg and took Bruno along. I 
didn’t want to get dinner alone.” 

“A person would think I needed a guardian 
to hear you talk,” Frank observed. 

“Well, what would a person naturally sup- 


82 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


pose, to have a fellow go fishing and fall off the 
dry ground into the river? But come now, and 
stop jawing about it, dinner is ready, said 
Dick. 

After dinner the hoys got to work in earnest, 
skinning, stretching, and fleshing their fur; an 
operation that consumed the better part of the 
afternoon, for our young trappers were not 
experts by any means. After a tilt at chess in 
the evening they retired and slept the sleep that 
comes from outdoor life in the health-giving 
woods. 

The following morning, not knowing but the 
catch might prove as large as the previous day, 
Thad, Tom, and Frank went to attend the traps, 
leaving Dick to do the work around camp and 
prepare dinner. 

About half past eleven the boys returned. As 
they touched the houseboat, a round, chubby 
face, streaming with perspiration, and looking 
very much perplexed, appeared in the doorway. 

‘H’m awful glad you’ve come, Tom. You’re 
head cook. I’m in a dickens of a mess. Some- 
thing is the matter with this rice we’ve got,” 
Dick announced anxiously. 

‘‘What’s the tip now?” asked Tom, climbing 
on board. 

“Why, you see,” explained Dick, leading the 
way into the cabin, “I thought I would cook 
some rice and give you fellows a treat. The 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 83 


book said to take a cupful, but I thought, shucks, 
whaUs a cup of rice to four people when they’re 
hungry; it wouldn’t be a spoonful apiece, and 
I knew we would all be hungry as bears; so I 
put on two cupfuls apiece, and pretty soon the 
stutf began to swell and swell and overflow the 
pan. I’ve been dipping out rice for half an 
hour and still it swells. What do you suppose is 
the matter with the blamed stuff? I’ve got rice 
enough here for a hotel,” said Dick, pointing to 
the various dishes of the half-cooked vegetable 
on the table. 

Tom, who had done considerable cooking for 
a youth of his age, took one look at the cause of 
Dick’s woes, and collapsing in a chair, held his 
sides and roared with laughter. 

‘‘Say, boys, come in here and see what this 
muttonhead has been doing; cooked eight cups 
of rice. 0 Dicky, Dicky Kingston, but you’re a 
peach from Peachtown. I must embrace you,” 
and Tom, throwing his arms around Dick’s 
neck, put one leg over the youthful cook’s shoul- 
der and tried to climb on his back. 

“Get off, you big monkey, before I stick this 
fork into you,” remonstrated Dick, freeing 
himself from his tormentor. 

“You goose, didn’t you know rice swells up 
about lour hundred times while cooking?” 
asked Thad, surveying the vast quantities 'of 
steaming vegetable. 


84 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


“How was I to know? I never tried to cook 
any before,’^ said Dick innocently. “There it 
goes again/’ and Dick gathered a spoon and 
saucer and began dishing out more rice. “I 
supposed the stuff was like potatoes or any 
other decent vegetable, you put on as much as 
you wanted. The next time I cook rice, I ’ll put 
sideboards on the pan,” complained Dick when 
he had eased the pressure on the bubbling mass. 

“Blamed if he ain’t cooked half the rice we’ve 
got,” announced Tom after investigating the 
receptacle for rice. “Dick, you will have to be 
invested with the Grand Cross of the Legion of 
Boss Cooks.” 

“I’d better be invested with the Grand Cross 
of the Legion of Boss Fools, I guess. I ought to 
have had more sense. Mamma has cooked it 
lots of times, but I never paid any attention to 
how she did it,” said Dick in disgust. 

“Well, Dick, it’s done now and can’t be 
helped. As a penalty you can eat the balance 
cold,” remarked Tom. 

“All right. I’ll eat it as a punishment for 
my foolishness. ’ ’ 

“It won’t be much of a punishment, either, 
I’m thinking,” observed Thad. 

“Well, let’s eat dinner and give Dick a rest. 
He won’t do it again,” said Frank. 

“He won’t do it more than once more, any- 
now; there isn’t rice enough left,” said Tom, 
with a grin. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 85 


‘‘What was the catch? I was too busy to 
look/^ inquired Dick while they were eating. 

‘‘Fifteen rats, two mink, and two coons,’’ re- 
plied Tom. 

‘ ‘ That means another big skinning bee, ’ ’ said 
Dick. 


CHAPTEE IV. 


A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 

For several days the boys attended strictly to 
business. They ran their traps regularly, fish- 
ing and hunting just enough to supply their 
wants ; for they could use but a limited amount, 
and they were* not the boys to wantonly kill for 
the mere sake of killing when they knew they 
could neither eat nor sell it in their present lo- 
cation. 

One afternoon while all were busily engaged 
in skinning and stretching their furs, they were 
startled by a hail from the north bank, oppo- 
site the Greased Lightning. 

Looking up, the boys beheld a youth appar- 
ently about their own age, standing on the bank 
with a gun over his shoulder. Excepting the 
man whose dog Tom had shot at, the young hun- 
ter was the first human being, or track of a hu- 
man being, that the boys had seen since leaving 
the Mountain Belle. 


• FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 87 

‘'Hello, yourself. Where you going?’' Thad 
called out. 

“Nowhere in particular. Just out huntin’ a 
little. Where you fellers goin’?” was the reply 
in a good-natured voice. 

“Oh, we are just taking a trip d6wn the river, 
hunting and trapping. We got a steamboat to 
tow us up here; we live way down the river,” 
was the information Thad imparted. 

After passing a few further remarks with the 
youth, Tom said in a low tone : 

‘ ‘ Maybe we had better ask him over. He may 
give us some pointers on the country around 
here. He doesn’t look like a dumbhead.” 

“Yes, let’s do so. He looks like a decent sort 
of a fellow, ’ ’ said Frank. 

Then Thad called out: “Want to come across 
and look us over ? ’ ’ 

“I don’t mind, only it’s too cold to wade,” 
their visitor replied with a short laugh. 

Tom jumped into a skiff and in a few minutes 
brought the young fellow over. He was a tall, 
freckled-faced boy with a pair of bright, inquis- 
itive gray eyes that seemed to take in every- 
thing. Faded, blue denim overalls adorned 
with numerous patches and tucked in cow-hide 
boots encased his long legs, and a rusty-look- 
ing, old black coat did duty as a hunting coat. 
This outfit was topped by a black slouch hat that 
had evidently seen seVeral years, if not centu- 
ries, of wear. A shot pouch was belted around 


88 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


his waist and over his shoulder was slung the 
regulation half pound powder flask in use where 
the muzzle-loader held sway. 

While our young hunters were not over eager 
to make the acquaintance of strangers, every 
one of -them mentally decided, from his frank, 
open countenance, that the youth was honest 
and trustworthy. It doesn’t take boys long to 
get acquainted, and our young friends quickly 
found out that the youth’s name was George 
Brown, and that he lived on a farm about a mile 
and a half northwest of them. In return, the 
boys gave their own names and addresses, and 
everybody felt at ease. 

The first thing, as a matter of course, the 
stranger’s gun had to he examined and com- 
mented upon. 

‘^Got a muzzle-loader, I see,” remarked 
Thad, reaching for the weapon. 

^‘Yep. And she’s a good one. The best gun 
in seven states to shoot,” replied the boy in a 
tone of pride, as he surrendered the gun for in- 
spection. 

Although it showed the signs of years of wear 
and poor care, when new it had evidently been 
a pretty high grade muzzle-loader. It had what 
we boys used to call ‘‘sunk tubes” (how we used 
to long for a double-barrel with “sunk tubes” !) 
and the locks worked smoothly with an oily 
click. When Thad glanced at the rib he saw 
the familiar legend: “London Fine Twist” en- 
graved thereon. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 89 

‘‘What kind 0’ ^ns you fellers gotT’ in- 
quired the blue denim youth, after his weapon 
had gone the rounds and been properly in- 
spected. 

“We have four shotguns and two rifles, all 
breech-loaders,’’ replied Thad. 

“Is that so? Got them new-fangled kind o’ 
guns, eh? I’d like to see ’em. I never saw but 
one or two, but I’ve always heard they wasn’t 
much ’count; just made for them fancy dude 
hunters from the city, to cut a splurge with. 
Guess they never kill nothin’ with ’em; least- 
wise I never heard o’ any of ’em killin’ any- 
thing. They was one of ’em stayed to our house 
nearly a week last fall. Gosh, but he had a gay 
outfit; silver-mounted breech-loader an’ every- 
thing to match. He had most a trunk full o’ 
huntin’ clothes; coats an’ hats an’ caps an’ 
boots an’ shirts an’ the Lord knows what all. 
An’ he had a nail-kag full 0’ cartridges, all 
loaded. But shucks, he couldn’t hit nothin’. 
Why I’ve seen him shoot at a robin settin’ on a 
fence post not more’n six rod away, an’ never 
touch it; an’ a gun that won’t kill six rod ain’t 
much good. He didn’t kill but one duck while 
he was there, an’ I guess that was crippled when 
he found it, ’cause it was poor as a snake. Ducks 
was thick, too, but he didn’t seem to know how 
to crawl up to ’em. Mebbe he was ’fraid 0’ 
dirtyin ’ his nice huntin ’ clothes. I had to work 
so I couldn’t go with him, but one day it was 


90 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

rainin^ an’ I took my old gun an’ went up to a 
lake above the house a ways. They was a big 
flock feedin’ in there close to shore. I crawled 
up an’ waited till they swum together an’ then 
give ’em one barrel settin’ an’ the other when 
they jumped, an’ I got seven. Gosh, you ought 
to seen that feller’s eyes open when I brought 
’em in. He bought every one of ’em an’ took 
’em home with him. I s ’pose he told everybody 
he killed ’em. I tell you it’ll be a long while 
’fore they beat these old guns shootin’,” and 
young Brown fondled his muzzle-loader affec- 
tionately. 

‘H’ll show you one of our guns,” said Thad, 
arising when he saw that young Brown had 
ended his recital. 

He returned in a moment with Frank’s dou- 
ble-barrel. ‘‘There is a breech-loader that will 
shoot,” he remarked quietly. 

“Gosh, she’s a beauty all right,” said the 
young man admiringly. 

“It shoots just as good as it looks,” observed 
Frank, who had been watching their guest with 
considerable curiosity. 

“How many shot will it put in a foot ring, 
eight rod?” asked the young farmer, after he 
had looked the gun over. 

“I don’t know; but it will put more in than 
yours will, I think,” said Frank. 

“I’d bet you a dollar if I had it with me, that 
it won’t,” replied Brown confidently. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 91 


‘^Betting won’t decide it. Let’s shoot at a 
thirty inch circle, forty yards; that’s about 
eight rods,” said Thad. 

‘‘All right. I’ll shoot against any of your 
guns,” said Brown with an air of great confi- 
dence. 

Thad cut a thirty inch circle out of wrapping 
paper and pinned it up against two trees that 
grew close together. Then he stepped oft forty 
good paces, and, coming back, remarked: 

“What sized shot are you loaded with!” 

“Number 4.” 

“Got any other sizes?” 

“Yes; I’ve got some 2’s.” 

Thad smiled. “Worse yet. Haven’t you 
any 6 ’s ? ” 

“No. I never had any luck with fine shot; 
they just tickle. Big shot is what hurts.” 

Thad said with an amused smile: “I’ll take 
you out hunting some day and show you how 
hard they tickle. But now we want the same 
sized load of the same sized shot. Have you a 
wormer ? ’ ’ 

“Yes.” 

“Then draw your shot, and we will take the 
shot out of two of our number 6 shells and put 
them in your gun.” 

“All right. I’ll plaster the mark all over 
with fine shot,” said the yonth with the muzzle- 
loader. 

When all was ready, Thad said: “Now, Mr. 
Brown, see what your gun will do.” 


92 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Brown stepped to the mark and raising his 
gun, took deliberate aim and fired. On walk- 
ing forward, the target was found to be mod- 
erately sprinkled, although rather uneven. A 
careful count showed seventy-five pellets in the 
paper. 

call that pretty good. Now let’s see how 
much your new style guns beats it,” said Brown 
triumphantly. 

Tom tacked another target exactly the same' 
size of the first. 

Thad inserted a shell in the gun and handed 
it to Frank. “Here, Frank, this is your gun; 
you want to see that it has a fair show. ’ ’ 

Frank shook his head. “No, you shoot it, 
Thad. I never was worth a cent on stationary 
targets with a shotgun. You will be surer to do 
it justice than I.” 

Brown grinned good-naturedly. “I guess 
you fellers is a little afraid your gun won’t show 
up like you thought it would.” 

Without replying, Thad stepped to the score, 
threw the gun on the target, and pulled the 
trigger. 

At the report everybody ran up to see the re- 
sult of the shot. Thad had centered it fairly, 
and the paper resembled the top of a big pep- 
per-box. The boys glanced at the target and 
then at young Brown. It was amusing to watch 
the expression on his face. His jaw dropped 
with utter astonishment and wonder as he gazed 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 93 

speechless at the great number of evenly dis- 
tributed pellets— an even two hundred! 

^‘Well, I’ll be gosh blamed if that don’t beat 
anything I ever saw in the shootin’ line. I didn’t 
suppose a gun was ever made that could shoot 
that way. I’ll knock under; my old fusee is a 
back number compared to that gun. You boys 
might have had everything I got. Much obliged 
for lettin’ me off so easy.” 

Our friends had rather expected the young 
farmer to take his defeat more to heart. In 
fact they half expected to he accused of cheat- 
ing in some way, but his honest, good-natured 
admission completely disarmed their fears, and 
it would have been ill grace for them to have 
boasted had they been so disposed, which they 
were not. 

In reply to Thad’s query if he wished to try 
again, their visitor shook his head. ‘‘No use, 
boys. You’ve got the best gun.” 

“If you are satisfied, come in the cabin and 
we’ll show you the rest of our outfit,” said 
Thad. 

Then everybody adjourned to the Greased 
Lightning where the boys exhibited all of their 
guns and other paraphernalia, and Thad ex- 
plained why the modern choke bore breech- 
loader was superior to the old style cylinder 
bore muzzle-loader. 

In turn their visitor told them of the lay of 
the land roundabout, and where the lakes and 


94 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


ponds were. The boys learned that the forest 
ended about a mile above, and two miles to the 
west of them. North and west of that the land 
was cultivated. 

‘ ‘ Are there any deer around here I ’ ’ inquired 
Tom. 

‘‘Yes, a good many, but they’re awful shy.” 

“We wouldn’t know a deer track from a post- 
hole, and I doubt if we would know a deer unless 
it was labeled,” remarked Dick. 

“I’ll bet you I would,” returned Tom con- 
fidently. 

“You probably wouldn’t hurt it much if you 
did,” said Dick dryly. 

“Well, it’s five o’clock, and I must go home 
and do the blamed chores ; I wish they was in 
Joppa,” said young Brown, arising. 

Tom set him across the little river and he 
departed with an invitation to come again. 

“I rather like that fellow,” remarked Tom, 
as he climbed on board again. 

“So do I,” replied Thad. “He is evidently 
pretty green, and what he doesn’t know about 
guns and shooting would make a big book, but 
I think he is honest and straight as a yard- 
stick. ’ ’ 

A few days after the visit from the young 
farmer, so ludicrous an adventure befell Tom 
that the boys laughed about it for a week. 

There was nothing Tom delighted so much 
in as to take the big repeater and wander 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 95 


stealthily about through the forest looking for 
some kind of big game. He had practiced on 
targets and mud turtles until he really had be- 
come quite expert in shooting and manipulating 
the powerful weapon. After hitting a mud tur- 
tle at two hundred yards he would remark: 
‘‘The first deer, hear, or panther I run across 
will get it in the neck just like that. ’ ’ 

On the day in question, Tom shouldered the 
45-70 and started off for a short ramble through 
the woods. In about two hours he returned. 
When he came in the other boys saw at once by 
the expression on his face that something had 
occurred to ruffle his temper. 

“Well, Tom, did you bag a Bengal tiger, or 
a grizzly bear, this timeT’ inquired Frank, 
looking up from a book he was reading. 

“You look as though you had shot at a deer 
standing at twenty yards and hit a tree forty 
feet to one side,’^ remarked Dick when he had 
caught the expression on Tom’s features. 

“Oh, shut up, or I’ll shoot a hole through the 
side of the boat,” replied Tom with a look of 
disgust that was comical to see. 

“Out with it, Tom; confession is good for 
the soul. We’ll try and not laugh at you,” said 
Thad, trying to look solemn. 

“That’s where the trouble is. You con- 
founded dolts don’t know when to let up nag- 
ging a fellow,” said Tom, glaring around at his 
mates. Then gradually a broad smile over- 


96 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


spread his features; he slapped his leg and 
broke into a laugh, as he added: ‘‘But, by 
George, iUs too good to keepP^ 

‘ ‘ Fire away, and we ’ll sympathize with you, ’ ’ 
added Dick, tipping back in his chair. 

“Might as w^ell tell it, I suppose,” said Tom 
resignedly. 

“You see,” he continued, “I sneaked around 
through the woods for about an hour looking 
for something to shoot at bigger than a squirrel. 
I could have shot a car-load of those little mon- 
keys, but that isn’t any fun, besides, after one 
of these bullets hits a squirrel there isn’t any- 
thing left of him but the tail and legs. After 
I’d walked a mile or two, I sat down on a big 
log to rest. I sat there maybe half an hour, 
watching the squirrels barking and scolding 
and chasing each other up and down the trees 
like a lot of cats. After a while I thought I’d 
move on a little further, so I got up on the log 
and walked along to about the middle of it and 
then stopped and gawked around a minute. 

“Just then I heard a crashing and tearing 
through the trees and brush, and I thought sure 
an elephant or a lion was coming, so I got the 
old gun ready and waited. Pretty quick some- 
thing came cantering past so close I could have 
reached it with a fish-pole. At first I thought 
the blamed thing was a calf, but after I had 
stared at it with my mouth open until it was 
almost by me, I got a great big hunch that it 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 97 


was a fawn. Then yon bet the old gnn came 
np quicker than a flash, and just then the con- 
founded fawn stopped and looked at me. I 
tried to get aim on it but the gun wobbled 
around so I couldn’t. Finally I got desperate 
and pulled the trigger anyhow; near as I can 
figure, I knocked the top off of an old sycamore 
about fifty feet above me.” Here Tom stopped 
and laughed immoderately. ^^Then the fawn 
started on again, and when I tried to work the 
lever to throw in another shell, I fell otf the 
log.” Tom stopped again and went off into an- 
other paroxysm of laughter. 

“AVell, go on with your deer killing; what 
did you do then?” said Dick. 

didn’t do anything for a minute, I was so 
mad I could have made a meal off of a stove 
poker. After the fawn was a couple of miles 
away, I got the lever to working and fired two 
or three shots into the woods just for meanness. 
Oh, but it was aggravating ! I just sat down on 
the log and tried to think up some new cuss 
words bad enough for the occasion, but I 
couldn’t, so I gave it up and came back to camp. 
Say, I’ll give you fellows nine dollars apiece to 
kick me through the window.” 

Thad, Frank, and Dick sprang simultaneously 
to the middle of the room, hut Tom, seeing their 
willingness, backed into a corner and cried out : 
‘‘Flold on. Come to think, I haven’t that much 
money with me, and I don’t want you to work 
for nothing.” 


98 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘I suppose that was what they call ^buck 
ague/ ’’ said Frank, seating himself again. 

‘‘Of course it was,’’ said Dick in great dis- 
gust. “Here we send out a man who claims he 
is a regular old hunter, after venison, and he 
pans out a tenderfoot, and falls off a log big as 
a billiard table when he tries to. load his gun. 
Tommy, T ’m disapp ’inted in you. ’ ’ 

“I am disappointed in myself. But honest, 
boys, I believe if I could have worked the lever 
quick enough 1 would have killed it the second 
shot,” replied Tom with some of his old-time 
confidence. 

“Plear! Hear!” shouted Dick. “He misses 
a deer twenty feet away standing still, and then 
claims he could have killed it running the next 
shot if he hadn’t fallen off the log. That is the 
last straw, Thomas. Out of the window you 
go,” and Dick seized Tom’s big bulk and made 
a vain attempt at carrying him to the window, 
amid shouts of laughter. 

Dick might have succeeded in getting Tom to 
the window in the course of a couple of hours’ 
hard work, but just then there came a hail from 
the north bank and he ceased operations as 
Frank went to the door. Their recent acquaint- 
ance, George Brown, was standing on the bank 
with his fowling-piece over his shoulder and 
Thad, jumping into a skiff, quickly ferried him 
over. 

“I got a half day off and come down to see 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 99 


if you boys were out of meat. Thought if you 
was, some of you might want to take a little 
duck hunt with me,^’ he announced after the 
greetings were over. 

‘^How is the larder, cookU’ inquired Thad, 
turning to Tom. 

^ Ht is getting pretty low ; only two teal in the 
ice-box,’’ replied Tom. 

‘‘Is that possible! Here we are right on the 
verge of starvation and didn’t know it,” said 
Thad in mock surprise. 

“You go with Brown, Thad, and the rest of 
us will stay and finish our work. Maybe Dick 
and I will catch a mess of fish while you are 
gone,” Frank remarked. 

‘ ‘ How does that programme strike the rest of 
you!” inquired Thad. 

“All right; go ahead,” from Tom and Dick. 

‘ ‘ There ’s a couple o ’ lakes west o ’ here about 
a mile, where the woods open up a little, that’s 
always full o’ ducks,” remarked Brown while 
Thad was getting ready. 

“How near can we row to them!” asked 
Thad. 

“Within eighty rod.” 

“That’s good enough. We’ll take the skiff,” 
said Thad, slipping on his rubber boots. 

Then he looked young Brown over doubtfully 
a moment and remarked: “Say, what makes 
you wear a black hat and a black coat!” 

The object of his remarks looked up in sur- 
prisOt “Why?” 


LofC. 


100 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Because the color is so conspicuous. You 
might as well carry a United States flag hoisted 
on your shoulder to show the ducks where you 
are. ’ ’ 

“I never thought anything about that part of 
it. I always wear what I happen to have on/’ 
young Brown replied simply. 

‘‘Let him wear one of mine to-day,” said 
Frank generously. 

When Brown was decked out in a dead-grass 
colored coat and hat, he made quite a respect- 
able-looking duck hunter. 

“That’s better,” said Thad, surveying his 
new partner. “A duck would see that black hat 
of yours four miles, especially when you stand 
in the brown rushes.” 

The two boys and Bruno were soon in the 
skitf and on their way up the little river. 

“I’ll bet Thad will open Brown’s eyes a lit- 
tle on shooting ducks,” said Tom with a chuckle, 
“for I will say that Thad is one of the best 
shots I ever saw, barring his old dad.” 

‘ ‘ His old dad can ’t beat him very much, any 
more,” said Dick in a tone of brotherly pride. 

“He is the best I ever saw,” said Frank, as 
they returned to their work. 

The sun had set, and over the west a gold and 
crimson halo suffused the sky with a softened 
radiance like a picture of the Madonna. The 
cool, restful twilight was stealing over the for- 
est and wrapping the wide, silent Mississippi 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. loi 


in the sombre garb of night. Looking np the 
little river, arched with great trees, was like 
looking into the mouth of a huge tunnel. The 
owls, now fully awake, were hooting and call- 
ing to each other, evidently discussing some 
question of importance in owl politics. 

Supper was ready and Thad had not re- 
turned. 

wish he would show up,’^ said Dick un- 
easily, as he peered wistfully out of the window 
into the gathering gloom. 

^‘He will be here in a minute and hungry as 
a bear, too. I’ll wager. It always makes a fel- 
low hungry to tramp around and shoot,” re- 
plied Tom cheerfully. 

Hardly had he spoken when the dip of oars 
came through the stillness, and a skiff appeared 
in the mouth of the tunnel. 

^‘Here he is,” cried Dick joyfully, and they 
all crowded out to welcome their comrade. 

^‘Duck hunter, ahoy!” and Tom caught the 
prow of the skiff. 

''Supper, ahoy!” cried Thad, unshipping the 
oars and straightening up. 

"Supper is all ready and waiting to he 
'ahoyed,’ ” replied Dick. 

"What did you get?” asked Frank. 

"Here is a gallon jug I got at one shot,” and 
Thad handed up a big brown jug to his wonder- 
ing mates. 

"Land o’ Goshen! Where did you get that? 


102 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


You and Brown must have been out to some dis- 
tillery all the afternoon. What is it, whiskey 1 ’ 
and Tom took the jug with a sniff. 

‘ ^ I see a few ducks, anyhow, ’ ’ remarked Dick, 
' peering into the skiff. 

< i There should be twelve. Yes, here they are, 
just an even dozen,’’ and Thad threw the birds 
on deck and stepped out of the skiff. 

“But what is in this jug? I am consumed 
with curiosity,” said Tom, eyeing the article 
doubtfully. 

“Ah, I sahe now. Give it to me,” and Tom 
me and I ’ll give you an imitation of a fellow tak- 
ing a drink. Here’s to you, lads,” and Thad 
pulled the cork and, glug-glug, the contents went 
down his throat as if he had been an old toper. 

‘Ah, I sahe now. Give it to me,” and Tom 
gave a pretty fair imitation of a summer brook 
flowing over the pebbles. 

“Here, young fellow, let up and give Frank 
and me a show,” said Dick, getting hold of the 
jug while Tom rubbed his stomach gratefully. 

“Here, Prank.” 

“Age before beauty, always,” replied Prank 
gracefully. 

“Your show is pretty slim on either, so I’ll hit 
it.” And Dick proceeded to do so, hard and 
proper. 

‘ ‘ Gee, but that ’s bully good, rich, sweet milk, ’ ' 
said Dick, drawing a long breath as he handed 
the jug to Frank. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 103 


‘ ‘ There, there, Frank. Let up, and leave some 
of the milk to get sour, and I’ll make you some 
of the nicest pancakes you ever tasted for break- 
fast,” Tom remarked. 

‘‘I’m afraid there won’t much of that milk get 
sour,” said Frank as he eased down the jug. 

“Come on, boys, I’m hungry,” and Thad was 
actually seated at the table before Dick. 

“Did you teach Brown anything about the 
noble art of shooting ducks?” Tom asked as he 
was pouring the coffee. 

An amused smile spread over Thad’s face as 
he replied: “I don’t know; I guess so. I had a 
circus, anyhow.” 

‘ ‘ How many did you kill ? ’ ’ Frank inquired. 

“We stopped shooting when we had thirty; 
we took eighteen of them to Brown’s house. 
That’s where I got this milk.” 

“So you’ve been visiting, eh?” said Dick. 

“Yes, a little. It was only half a mile to 
Brown’s home from where we were shooting; 
and after we had ducks enough he insisted I 
walk over there and get a drink of milk. So I 
went over with him and got acquainted with the 
family. Besides George, there is an older broth- 
er— a man grown, father, mother, and two sis- 
ters. They are nice people, too, but they are 
working themselves to death trving to make 
money. They insisted on my taking the jug of 
milk, and George helped me carry it and the 
ducks to the boat.” 


104 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘^That’s the kind of neighbors to have; and 
the next deer Tom kills, we will send them a 
quarter, ^ ’ said Dick with a wink. 

^‘You keep your face full of potato and shut 
up,^’ retorted the long-suffering Tom. 

‘‘The lakes where we were shooting,’’ con- 
tinued Thad, ‘ ‘ are only a short distance west of 
the one where our traps are set ; and it is one of 
the finest places to shoot ducks you ever saw. 
The timber there begins to open out into a flat 
bottom, dotted with rice lakes. One lake lies in 
the woods, and a quarter of a mile west of it, 
with scattered trees between, and connected by 
a narrow run, is another. 

‘ ‘ The lake in the woods was full of ducks when 
we got there, and the first thing Brown wanted 
to do, was to crawl up to a big flock feeding 
along shore; but I held him back until I had 
looked the ground over and saw where to go. 
Ducks were flying backward and forward be- 
tween these two lakes continually, and I saw in a 
mighty short time that we wanted to get on this 
fly way. So I said to Brqwn: ‘You let me engi- 
neer this thing and we will get all the ducks we 
want without crawling on our stomachs like a 
couple of snakes.’ 

‘ ‘ He looked at me in a funny way, and said : ‘ I 
don’t know much about shootin’ ducks, but I 
don’t see how you are goin’ to get settin’ shots 
if you don’t crawl; ducks ain’t tame enough to 
let you walk up to ’em, not by a jugful.’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 105 


‘ ‘ I said : ^ Never mind how we do it. You come 
with me and keep still and I’ll show you.’ With 
that I threw the gun over my shoulder and 
started along the shore as though I didn’t care 
whether we got any ducks or not. 

‘ ‘ Of course they began to get up ahead of us 
in bunches and singles, and fly out over the pass 
to the next lake, just as I knew they would. I 
took a sly peep at Brown, and the expression on 
his face would have made a wooden Indian 
laugh. He was evidently so disgusted and mad 
to think that he had been fool enough to go 
hunting with such a blockheaded simpleton, that 
he could hardly hold himself.” Here Thad 
broke off into a hearty laugh, in which the other 
boys joined. didn’t say anything, but hur- 
ried along to the run, and when I came to a 
bunch of rushes that suited me, I stopped and 
said : ^ Let ’s get in here. ’ 

‘ ‘ I tramped down enough rushes in the middle 
so Brown and I would have elbow room, and 
Bruno could lie behind us, and then got ready 
for business. The run was sprinkled with rushes 
and open water and very shallow. While we 
were waiting for a flock. Brown looked around 
disdainfully and finally said with a sniff: Wou 
may be on to your business, but seems to me 
you’ve got queer ideas about shootin’ ducks. 
You don’t expect ducks to ’light here, do you?’ 

said: ^Of course not; we don’t want them 
to ’light; shoot them when they go by.’ Then 
he looked more disgusted than ever. 


io6 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘ ‘ Hf you can T shoot any better than I can a- 
flyin^, we’ll get mighty few ducks. I can’t hit 
’em flyin ’, they go too allfired fast. ’ 

^Must then I saw a bunch coming and said: 
Hlere comes a flock. See how many you can 
kill, and I won’t shoot.’ 

‘‘Brown cocked his gun and began to wriggle 
about and get it up to his shoulder. Pretty 
quick a nice little bunch of about a dozen blue- 
wings came along just over the rushes and about 
twenty yards from us. Just as they were oppo- 
site us Brown poked his gun straight at them 
and pulled the trigger. I think the bunch must 
have been ten feet past the line of shot before 
the powder exploded. Of course he didn’t kill 
any. He went through about the same manoeu- 
vre in shooting that you did, Dick, that time we 
were going to salt down the barrel of teal, ’ ’ said 
Thad with a wink. 

‘ ‘ Oh, there were others that day. Go on with 
your story, ’ ’ replied Dick calmly. 

“When I saw Brown shoot,” continued Thad, 
“I knew he didn’t know the A B C of wing shoot- 
ing, so I said: ‘You stand still and give me sea- 
room and I’ll see what I can do with these gen- 
tlemen. ’ 

“We didn’t have to wait more than a minute, 
for the ducks wanted to go back into the lake 
where we had routed them out, when a bunch 
came along. I never moved or batted an eye 
until they passed us. Brown looked astonished 


t 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 107 

and had jnst opened his mouth to say something 
when the ducks got where I wanted them, and I 
threw the gun onto them and smashed three. I 
never saw a fellow more tickled and excited 
than he was. ‘You killed three. I’ll git ’em,’ 
he yelled, and then dropped his gun and started 
out of the blind. I caught him by the arm. 
‘ Stand still. Bruno will get the ducks. ’ Then I 
re-loaded and sent Bruno after the birds. Be- 
fore he got back, a pair of mallards came along 
and I killed both of them. Brown got excited 
again and wanted to go splashing out in the 
water after these two, but I told him the dog 
would get all the ducks we killed, and he cooled 
down a little and went to loading his gun. Then 
a single bluebill went zipping past, going as if 
Satan was after him. I knocked it down, and I 
thought Brown never would get his mouth shut 
again, from staring at me. I had to turn my 
head to laugh. 

“ ‘Gosh,’ he said. ‘That beats anything I 
ever saw or heard of. How did you do it ? You 
must be one of them experts I ’ve read about. ’ 

‘ ‘ I told him I was no expert, just a plain coun- 
try duck hunter. 

“ ‘You must have aimed forty feet ahead of 
that duck, didn’t you?’ 

“ ‘No,’ I said, ‘I didn’t aim ahead of it at all; 
I aimed right at it. ’ 

“Then he was more mystified than ever. I 
didn’t have time to explain why I let them get 


io8 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


by so far before shooting, as the dncks kept com- 
ing so fast it took all my time to attend to them. 
In fact, it was about the prettiest shooting I ever 
had ; dncks coming or going every two or three 
minutes. Sometimes I would have ten or a 
dozen down in the run at one time, before Bruno 
could retrieve them. Then Brown would get so 
excited he didnT know whether he was on his 
head or heels. He didn’t try to shoot any more ; 
just stood and watched me. Sometimes when 
I’d let down two or three at a shot, he would 
swing his hat and yell so you could hear him a 
mile: ‘Sock it to ’em, Thad! knock the stuffin’ 
Out of ’em!’ 

“After we had nearly all the birds we wanted, 
I said: ‘Here, Brown, you will never learn to 
shoot on the wing unless you try. ’ 

“But he shook his head. ‘No use to try. I 
couldn’t do it in a hundred years. I don’t see 
how you shoot so quick; you don’t seem to take 
any aim at all.’ 

“After coaxing awhile and going through the 
motions of throwing the gun onto imaginary 
ducks, I persuaded him to try it once more. I 
got him primed up just as a little bunch came 
along, and, honest, I would have given a house 
and lot to have had you fellows where you could 
have watched him. Pie clutched his gun as 
though he expected it to get away from him, and 
when I said ‘shoot,’ he swung it out as if he was 
trying to hit somebody on the head with it. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 109 


Then he stopped it dead still, shut his eyes and 
banged away. Of course he didn’t come within 
four rods of the ducks, and then I showed him 
that he must pull the trigger just before he 
stopped the gun. He tried and tried, and finally 
did scratch down one duck from the edge of a 
flock. Then he wouldn’t shoot any more. Said 
he was going to quit while his credit was good. 

After we had the ducks tied up, and ready to 
leave, I took a piece of paper and pencil and 
showed him the difference between shooting out 
in front at a square right angle, and waiting 
until the birds got by and shooting at a sharp 
acute angle. He caught on to the idea all right 
and said he would keep on trying until he could 
hit them, but he works so hard, he doesn’t have 
time to get out more than half a dozen times a 
year, he told me, so he will probably forget all 
about it. But we made old Bruno earn his sup- 
per, didn’t we, Bruno?” added Thad, grinning 
over at his four-footed partner, lying in his ac- 
customed place near, the door. Bruno thumped 
the floor a couple of times, without lifting his 
nose from his paws, heaved a sigh, and said 
nothing. 


CHAPTER V. 


THE COUNTRY DANCE. 

A couple of days after the duck hunt described 
in the previous chapter, the boys received an- 
other visit from their new friend George Brown, 
who, after passing a few remarks, threw the 
whole camp into a state of excitement by in- 
viting them to attend a dance at his home the 
following evening. 

^‘Us fellows go to a dance; the idea! This 
would be a nice outfit to attend dances, wouldnT 
it, boys?” cried Thad, looking around at his 
mates. 

‘ ‘I donT see anything the matter with this out- 
fit. What'S to hinder your going?” asked 
Brown soberly. 

Well, there are a number of weighty reasons 
why we couldn’t enter society consistently. One 
reason is we haven’t any clothes fit for the oc- 
casion. Another is — ” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI, iii 


^ ^ Oh, shucks, ’ ’ young Brown broke in with an 
uproarious laugh. ‘‘I guess you fellers never 
went to any dances in this part o’ the country, 
or you wouldn’t talk that way. Of course I 
don’t mean to say you don’t have to wear any 
clothes, but you can wear any kind o’ clothes 
you want to. Why, half the boys will wear old 
blue overalls tucked in their boots; cowhide 
boots covered with milk stains, at that. Mebbe 
a few will have on a boiled shirt, but they are an 
exception. I haven ’t anything better ’n a pair o ’ 
jeans pants to wear; so clothes needn’t bother 
you. You fellers can wear your hunting coats, 
if you want to. Some o ’ the boys take oft their 
coats and dance in their shirt sleeves when they 
git warmed up. Mebbe two or three of ’em, that 
have girls they’re sparkin’ purtv hard, and 
want to look extra nice, ’ll wear paper collars, 
but that’s about the extent o’ the dressin’ up. 
Clothes don’t cut any figure here. One man’s 
good’s another, if he behaves himself. Now 
will you come?” 

Thad looked around at the other boys doubt- 
fully. 

‘‘I don’t care. Just as the rest say.” 

‘‘I’d just as soon go as not,” said Tom. 

“What do you say, Frank; want to go*?” 
asked Thad. 

“I don’t care; I’ll go where the gang goes.” 

“Dick!” 

“I suppose so. We’ll probably make jays of 
ourselves though.” 


1 12 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘We’re all jays, so that needn’t worry you,” 
remarked young Brown with a grin. 

“What music do you have?” asked Frank. 

“Two fiddles; first and second. The Haskel 
boys. ’ ’ 

“Do you suppose we can find the way?” 
asked Tom. 

“Yes, that’s easy. Walk up the bank of the 
Mississippi a mile until you come to where a 
pile of wood’s ranked up; then go west forty 
rods, and you come to the main road that goes 
right past our house. It’s the first house, you 
can’t miss it.” 

“All right. I guess we can find the way,” 
said Tom, and young Brown took his departi^re. 

The following evening after supper had been 
eaten and the dishes washed, the boys began to 
“dress” for the dance. 

“The way Brown talked, we won’t need to 
make a very elaborate toilet,” Thad remarked. 

“I don’t know how the rest of you fellows are 
fixed, but I haven’t even a white shirt with me,” 
said Tom. 

“Neither has Thad nor I. WTiat do you want 
with a white shirt?” queried Dick. 

“I don’t want any. Only I thought if the 
rest of you wore white shirts and I didn’t, folks 
would take me for the hired man. ’ ’ 

“Because if you want one, you can wear my 
white nighty just as well as not,” pursued Dick. 

“No, thanks. I’ll worry along with my old 
woolen shirt.” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 113 


have a white shirt, but I don’t propose to 
wear it if the rest of you haven’t any. I don’t 
want to be the only dude in the party. In fact, 
from what Brown said, it doesn’t make much 
difference what we wear, ’ ’ said Frank, who was 
engaged in the delicate and laborious occupa- 
tion of shaving, if scraping the light-colored 
down from his beardless face could be dignified 
by such a term. 

‘‘You might put on your good clothes and 
show these benighted people what a wejl- 
dressed person looks like,” suggested Thad, 
winking at Tom and Dick. 

“Excuse me. I don’t think I will make a 
spectacle of myself for you fellows to laugh at. 
When I am among the Romans, I do as the Ro- 
mans do.” 

“You are not doing as the Romans do now. 
I’ll warrant,” remarked Dick, eyeing Frank’s 
tonsorial operations with considerable interest. 

“What’s that?” inquired Frank, untying a 
knot in his face and letting his distorted features 
settle back to their original shape. 

“Shaving. The Romans around here prob- 
ably don’t shave once in six months.” 

“How do you know?” 

“Oh, I guessed at it. They probably shave 
and dig the real estate out of their ears twice a 
year. Thad ’s a Roman, too.” 

“Don’t bother us about such trivial matters. 
I am too busy dressing for the ball,” said Thad 
absently. 


1 14 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


believe I’m upholstered good enough al- 
ready ; taking Brown at his word, ’ ’ said Dick. 

‘‘Say, hadn’t we better start before dark, so 
we will be sure to find the way, ’ ’ said Tom. 

“Yes, and we might take a lantern to help us 
back home in the dark; and say, boys, while I 
think of it, we must leave this locality soon, and 
drift on down the old ‘Father of Waters,’ or 
we’ll get frozen up before we get back home, 
and that wouldn’t be a bit funny,” remarked 
Thad. 

“That’s right, boys. We ought to dig out of 
here right away.^ We can hunt, fish, and trap 
farther down the river when we are nearer 
home. I haven’t any particular desire to get 
frozen in, ’way oft up in this country, if we can 
help it. This craft isn’t very swift, and we are 
likely to hit a sandbar every few miles and lose 
a week’s time getting otf,” said Tom. 

“That last remark is no fairy story, either,” 
said Dick sagely. 

So the boys decided then and there to take up 
their traps on the morrow and start down the 
river the day following. 

After giving Bruno a friendly lecture on at- 
tending to business and watching the Greased 
Lightning, the boys crossed the little stream 
and started for the dance. They experienced 
no difficulty in finding the way, and arrived at 
the Brown homestead shortly after dark. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 115 

‘^We are a little early, but thought it best to 
start before dark,’’ said Thad in apology for 
their appearance before the dance began. 

“You did just right,” said their friend 
George, who met them at the door. “Come in. 
Here, mother; you know Thad Kingston, the 
chap that showed me how to kill ducks; and 
this is his brother Dick, and this is Tom Evans, 
and this is Frank Howard, his friends that are 
taking the trip down the river with him.” 

Mrs. Brown, a short, heavy-set, motherly- 
looking woman, extended her hands cordially. 
“Glad to see all of you, boys^ Come right in 
and have chairs. You won’t find any style here; 
the young folks are just having a little gather- 
ing, and of course they have to dance. George, 
take the bovs’ hats. Pa and Samuel are out 
doing the chores— ah, here’s pa now. Pa, you 
know Mr. Kingston, the young man that killed 
all those ducks for George; and this is hisi 
brother, and Mr. Evans, and Mr. Howard.” 

Mr. Brown, a tall, powerfully-built man of 
forty-five or thereabouts, a very reticent-ap- 
pearing giant, quietly acknowledged the intro- 
duction, and then proceeded to fill a short clay 
pipe with “Tom and Jerry” and seat himself 
in an old-fashioned rocking-chair by the window 
where he smoked in silence. 

In a short time the young folks began to 
gather in by twos and threes, laughing and jok- 
ing. They were conducted into the “front 


ii6 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


room,’^ that had been cleared of furniture and 
carpets to admit of dancing, and from thence 
the girls were whisked away to a convenient 
bedroom, to ^Hake off their things,’’ as they 
express it in the country, while the boys seated 
themselves in the chairs that circled the vacant 
room,^ and fell to discussing the crops, stock, 
fall plowing, and other current farm topics. 
Their conversation was punctured with fre- 
quent flashes of wit, some of it bright and keen 
as a rapier ’s thrust. For be it known, the rural 
districts of these broad United States hold many 
a youth who so fqr from having The emptiness 
of ages in his face,” has a well-developed, intel- 
ligent mind, and a wit as keen and pungent as 
ever sparkled in the halls of wealth and culture. 
He may live and die unknown to the world, as 
^^Many a flower is born to blush unseen and 
waste its fragrance on the desert air,” but 
every generation witnesses an increase in the 
number, and an uplifting of the masses. Edu- 
cation and liberty are the keys that are unlock- 
ing the dungeons of the mind and letting in the 
blessed sunlight of knowledge to the intellect 
of the toilers, who have been the sport and play- 
things of kings and emperors these many weary 
ages. 

The dull, stupid, cringing, servile peasantry, 
depicted in literature as the people of the Old 
World, has few counterparts in the rural dis- 
tricts of Uncle Sam’s domains. Imagine some 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 117 


noble lord driving along the highway of our 
great middle West, and accosting a farmer with 
a demand to do some menial service for his 
lordship at once. I fancy the august personage 
would promptly hear some remarks couched in 
vigorous English that would furnish food for 
reflection the balance of the day, and perhaps 
coupled wih a request to betake himself to that 
storied region where ^‘Manitoba Waves” are 
unknown and the iceman ventureth not. Not 
that these people are surly and ill-mannered, 
but it is the tone of command they object to. 
Millions for kindness and courtesy, but not one 
cent for arrogance and command. 

Now, boy readers, if you will kindly overlook 
this little digression, we will proceed' to carve 
the mutton some more. 

Our four friends remained in the room they 
had first entered, that served as sitting-room, 
dining-room, and kitchen, chatting with the old' 
folks, until the shrill, keen notes of a violin 
called their attention. 

The musicians were tuning their instruments. 
Then came the stentorian voice of the floor man- 
ager : 

‘‘Form on for a quadrille!” 

At this juncture, George Brown came into 
the room and said: 

“Come on, boys. Do you want to dance the 
first setU’ 

“I guess not. We will go in and see how 


ii8 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


you do it, first,” replied Thad, speaking for the 
four, as they arose and passed into the ‘‘ball- 
room. ’ ’ 

A score and a half of young people were gath- 
ered in the room, where there was scant space 
to form two sets between the rows of chairs. 
The musicians were seated on chairs that had 
been placed on a low table, to enable them to 
get a better view of the dancers; the second 
violin acting as prompter, or “caller,” as he 
was termed. Soon after the boys entered the 
room, the two sets were formed ; the first violin 
twanged the strings of his instrument two or 
three times to get his bearings, reached into his 
hip pocket for a slab of plug tobacco, detached 
a generous section with his eye teeth and handed 
the remains to his partner, who cut another 
crescent out of it. The head musician then slid 
the chin rest of his violin well up under the 
right side of his vest; deposited a couple of 
ounces of liquid tobacco in a cuspidore on the 
floor by the table, and started in on an old, fa- 
miliar quadrille, his heavy, cowhide boots beat- 
ing time with energy. 

The dancers’ toes were impatiently tapping 
the floor, keeping time to the music, when the 
prompter yelled: 

“All join hands and circle to the left,” and 
the dance was on. 

Thad, Tom, and Dick, living in a country 
town, had attended many dances of a similar 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 119 


character, but to Frank Howard, born and 
raised in a large city, a country dance was a 
new experience. Of course be bad danced many 
times, but in a more conventional way. Here, the 
utter absence of conventionality; the heartfelt, 
absorbing interest the dancers took in the per- 
formance ; the odd expressions used by the 
prompter in calling some of the changes of the 
cotillion, were both amusing and instructive to 
him. 

However, all of the boys were treated so cor- 
dially, and made to feel so completely at home, 
that before they bad been there half an hour, 
they entered into the spirit of the fun, and were 
laughing, joking, dancing, and perspiring with 
the rest. 

After a while Frank slipped out into the sit- 
ting-room, in the wake of George Brown, and 
tapped him on the shoulder. 

‘ ‘ What is the expense attached to this ? ’ ’ 

Brown looked at him doubtfully. ‘AVhy, the 
boys’ll only give fifty cents apiece to-night 
’cause we don’t have supper; hut I thought I 
wouldn’t charge you boys anything seein’ as 
you’re strangers here.” 

Frank slipped a five dollar hill into his hand. 
“That is to pay for all four of us. Keep the 
change for yourself to buy ammunition or any- 
thing you want. Mum now, to everybody. If 
Thad, Tom, or Dick want to pay, tell them it is 
all settled for,” and Frank disappeared in the 


120 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


crowd and went to dancing, leaving young 
Brown in a state of complete bewilderment. 
The idea of any one deliberately giving money 
away, was a problem too deep for him to solve. 

However, Frank was not bothering his head 
over it. He was having a good time, and money 
was small matter to him. 

Along toward midnight, when everybody was 
jolly and serene and the dancing at its height, 
Thad and George Brown were standing apart 
in one corner of the room watching the dancers, 
and conversing in low tones. While they were 
talking, two new arrivals came in. 

Young Brown saw them, and his brow clouded. 
There ^s Jim Grover and his brother Pete, and 
they Ve been drinking. I hoped they wouldn’t 
come. Jim’s so touchy and quarrelsome when 
he gets a little liquor in him, and he generally 
does, and Pete always backs him up in every- 
thing he does. That ’s his girl Frank is dancing 
with, and Jim don’t allow anybody to hardly 
look at her, although he don’t ever take her 
around any. She came here to-night with her 
brother. Just like Jim now to pick a fuss with 
Frank, he being a stranger. How is Howard; 
can he take care of himself ? ’ ’ 

Thad looked troubled. don’t know, I am 
sure. I never saw him in a fuss, but I’m afraid 
not. He has always lived in the city and I don’t 
suppose ever was in a fight in his life. ’ ’ 

‘‘Mebbe Jim ’ll let him alone, but I’m afraid 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 121 


not. We won’t see Prank abused, anyhow. If 
it comes to the worst, I’ll call up the old man. 
He can lick a ten-acre lot full of Jim Grovers, 
and Jim knows it.” 

Meanwhile, Prank Howard, totally uncon- 
scious of any impending trouble, was thoroughly 
enjoying himself. His slim, supple form was 
everywhere. Down the center ; balancing, chas- 
seing, whirling his partner; laughing and joking 
with the gayest, his handsome face was the pic- 
ture of youthful enjoyment. The third change 
had ended and Prank was just leading his part- 
ner to a seat, when he felt her suddenly jerked 
from his arm, and found himself confronted by 
a fierce-looking, heavy-set young fellow, who 
growled out in no gentle tone : 

‘^Say, stranger, that’s my gal and I want you 
to let her alone and mind your own business, or 
I’ll cuff your ears.” 

The hot blood mounted to Prank Howard’s 
face at the insult, but he controlled himself and 
said calmly : 

‘ ‘ I did not know that she belonged to any one. 
I was introduced to her and danced with her as 
I would with any lady. If I have injured you 
or the lady in any way, or transgressed anv of 
the rules of your society here, I beg your par- 
don ; but, although I am a stranger here and you 
are among your own crowd, I tell you to your 
teeth that it will take a better man than you to 
cutf my ears.” 


122 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Frank’s eyes blazed as he uttered these bold, 
defiant words to the burly youth confronting 
him, while everybody held his breath in amaze- 
ment at the audacity of the white-faced, delicate- 
looking stranger in calling down the bully of the 
community. Thad was thunderstruck at this 
display of spirit. He and George Brown stood 
motionless, uncertain whether to step forward 
and interfere, or let matters take their course. 
Thad shrank from the thought of having his 
friend pounded by the bully’s fists, but some- 
thing held him where he stood. 

A look of contempt came into Grover ’s face at 
Frank’s words, and he said with a brutal oath: 

‘‘You white-faced puppy, you talk big. If 
you was half a man, I’d mash your jaw. As- it 
is. I’ll just cuff your ears and teach you who 
you’re talkin’ to.” And with that, he aimed a 
sweeping blow at the side of Frank’s head with 
his open palm. 

If the blow had struck where it was intended, 
Frank would probably have seen a first-class as- 
sortment of stars; but it didn’t. He ducked 
like a flash, and as Grover ’s hand swept over his 
head, and he was turned half around from the 
force of the blow, Howard dealt him a blow in 
the ear that sent his burly form sprawling on 
the floor at the feet of his audience. Frank’s 
coat and vest came off with a jerk, went flying 
through the air into Thad’s arms, and he stood 
defiantly awaiting the onset of his foe. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 123 


Grover sprang to his feet with a growl of rage 
and came at his despised antagonist, bnt his 
awkward, ungainly strength availed him little. 
A bull might as well have tried to fight a 
shadow. Frank danced about him like a rubber 
ball, smashing him in the mouth, nose, and jaw, 
with one or both hands, until the blood streamed 
from the bully ^s face. Then when Grover 
reached to grasp his antagonist in a bear-like 
hug, Frank ducked under his arm, and coming 
up behind, dealt him a blow behind the ear that 
sent him to the floor again. Once more the bully 
sprang to his feet, half dazed, and wild with 
rage, only to meet with a dose of the same medi- 
cine, until Frank caught him with a sidewinder 
on the jaw that sent him crashing to the floor 
again. 

At this juncture, Pete Grover, who had been 
a silent spectator of the scene, seeing that his 
brother was getting much the worst of the bat- 
tle, started across the room for Frank with 
blood in his eye. 

Love of fair play, however, is inherent in 
every human breast, high or low, rich or poor, 
and half a dozen voices shouted : 

Hands off, Pete Grover. Two on one don’t 
go.” 

Pete, however, paid no attention to the warn- 
ing, and two or three of the boldest of the shout- 
ers started to seize him, but their assistance was 
not needed. Frank heard the shout and faced 


124 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

his new antagonist. Quick as a cat he turned 
a handspring, and his feet striking Grover in 
the ^ ^ solar plexus, ’ ^ hurled him backward on the 
floor as though shot from a catapult. 

Thad had watched the battle as one in a 
trance. Was it possible that this cool, nervy, 
lightning-like disciple of the prize ring could be 
his quiet, gentle friend, whom he would have 
sworn could not whip a ten-year-old boy, and 
whom he should have expected to faint at the 
sight of blood ? He half believed he was dream- 
ing and would awake presently in the cabin of 
the Greased Lightning. When Pete Grover went 
down before Frank’s curious onslaught, Thad’s 
wonder was intensified. 

Tom and Dick, standing in another part of 
the room, were as much mystified over their 
friend’s actions as Thad; and Dick actually 
pinched himself to see if he were awake. 

Frank was on his feet in an instant, awaiting 
the attack of his foes, instead of belittling him- 
self by pounding a fallen antagonist, as doubt- 
less either of his foes would have done had he 
been down. Everybody’s sympathy was plainly 
with Frank, and now that he had two foes to 
confront, it looked as though a free fight were 
imminent. The girls had long since fled the 
scene, leaving only an excited crowd of young 
fellows, the major part of whom evidently stood 
in awe of the Grover hoys, but were now in no 
mood to see an injustice done Frank after his 
plucky fight. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 125 


How it would have ended it is impossible to 
say, but at that instant some one noticed the 
gigantic form of their host standing in the door- 
way. flow long he had stood there watching 
the fight, no one knew, but he was evidently a 
man of prompt action when once his mind was 
made up to do a thing. Ere another blow could 
be struck, he cried out in a commanding voice : 
‘^Jim and Pete Grover, take your hats and get 
out of rny house before 1 wring your necks. I 
won’t have my guests insulted by such truck as 
you. Git!” 

Without a word the two Grover boys picked 
up their hats and sneaked out of the house in a 
sullen, shamefaced manner, and everybody 
felt relieved. Then the country boys began to 
crowd around Frank in a wondering, worshipful 
way, but he put on his coat and vest and walked 
straight up to his host. 

^ ‘ Mr. Brown, I am heartily ashamed of myself 
for fighting in your house and before ladies, too. 
I am very sorry I was so hot blooded. I will 
take my hat and go also.” 

But his host extended a hand the size of a 
ham, and gripped his own. ‘‘You’ll do nothing 
of the kind, for I don’t believe you are to blame. 
I know the Grover hoys clear through. You 
have done this community a great service by 
thrashing the worst bully in the neighborhood. 
Isn ’t that right, hoys ? Didn ’t Jim Grover start 
the fuss?” he asked, turning to the crowd. 


126 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘^Yes,’’ shouted a dozen voices. ‘^Jim in- 
sulted him and tried to slap his face.^’ 

^^Good. Just as I thought. Wehl just cele- 
brate this event- by getting up a supper in his 
honor. Go back to dancing, all of you, until iUs 
ready. ’ ’ 

A cheer went up ; the girls tiled back into the 
room, and the dancing was resumed. 

Needless to say, Frank Howard was the 
belle of the ball^’ for the remainder of the 
night. Wherever he went, he was the center of 
an adoring group of country youths. 

Thus does muscle command respect. 

It was after three o’clock in the morning be- 
fore the festivities were over and our friends 
had departed for camp, after many a hand- 
shake and expression of good will from these 
honest, kind-hearted people. The boys lost no 
time in getting to bed on their arrival at camp, 
and were soon sleeping the sleep of youth and 
robust health. 


CHAPTER VI. 


DOWN THE RIVER. 

It was after nine o’clock before there was a 
stir in the Greased Lightning. Then Tom rolled 
over and gaped. The unusual flood of light from 
the late sun fully awakened him and he called 
out: ‘^Say, boys, it must be afternoon. Wake 
up ; this is the day we take up the traps and get 
ready to migrate.” 

Gracious Peter, that’s so! I wonder what 
time it is anyhow, ’ ’ said Thad, who awakened by 
Tom’s racket was feeling for his watch. “A 
quarter after nine and no breakfast started. 
This comes from dissipating too much.” 

‘H say, Dick, put a clothes-pin on your nose 
or you will never make the top of the hill ; you ’re 
losing too much steam,” called Tom, heaving a 
pillow over into the other bunk. 

The well-aimed missile landed on Dick’s safe- 
ty-valve, causing him to shut off the machinery 
and awake with a snort. 


128 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘^You must have been taking a run for the 
hill/’ said Tom, as Dick sat up in bed and 
rubbed his eyes. 

“No, I wasn’t. I was licking the stuffing out 
of Frank. If you’d just let me alone a minute 
longer he would have been done up proper ; now 
I may never get another such chance,” replied 
Dick regretfully. 

“Oh, we’ll fix that all right. I’ll wake him 
and you can finish polishing him right now. ’ ’ 

“No, thank you. I don’t care for any of the 
pie when he is awake. Let him sleep and we ’ll 
go out and help Thad get breakfast. ’ ’ 

“I admire your judgment on that score. I 
would rather be asleep, myself, if I were going 
to fight him,” observed Tom. 

^ ‘ That ’s right, lads ; get your hands in again 
on cooking. I must resign to-morrow,” said 
Thad, as Tom and Dick came out and began to 
assist in preparing breakfast. 

‘ ‘ How is that ? ’ ’ inquired Tom. 

“The ship sails to-morrow, doesn’t it? Did 
you ever hear of the Commodore cooking for the 
roustabouts ? ’ ’ 

“I don’t know that I ever did, but if you wish 
we will establish a precedent in this case,” re- 
plied Tom. 

“No, never mind; I think precedents are bad 
things. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I suppose I ’ll have to try it next. I ’ll fix up 
some dishes that will make your hair curl,” ob- 
served Dick. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 129 

don’t doubt that a bit,” said Tom with a 
laugh. ^‘Y"ou will probably give us all a dose 
of dyspepsia.” 

‘‘If I don’t, it won’t be my fault. I’ll teach 
you fellows to take a duck-legged orphan ’way 
oft up the river and make him cook for a lot of 
greasy roustabouts. ’ ’ 

When breakfast was ready the boys concluded 
to eat and let Frank sleep awhile longer, but 
they had just begun the meal when that indi- 
vidual came out of the bedroom half dressed, 
yawning and stretching. 

“Hello, here comes the pugilist. Somebody 
get a stuffed club, so if he breaks loose we can 
defend ourselves, ’ ’ said Dick, facetiously. 

“My shotgun is handy, and Bruno will help, 
too,” remarked Tom. 

“Oh, come now, boys, let up, please do. You 
boys would have done the same thing under the 
circumstances,” said Frank, looking very much 
disturbed. 

“Not by a blamed sight, for the simple reason 
that we couldn ’t, ’ ’ said Dick with a grin. 

“All right, Frank, we won’t bother you about 
it on one condition : that you sit down here and 
tell us how you came to be such a shoulder hitter 
and athlete, and not say anything about it, ’ ’ said 
Tom. 

“There isn’t much to tell,” said Frank after 
he had brightened himself up with a dash of 
cold water and was seated at the table, ‘ ‘ I have 


130 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


belonged to a gymnasium since I first started to 
school. I was not a very robust chap in my 
youth and my folks thought gymnastic work was 
a good thing, so I kept at it pretty steadily. Of 
course, practice makes perfect, and the last 
couple of years I was called the best all-round 
athlete in my class. As to what I know about 
boxing and sparring, papa is directly responsi- 
ble for that. He claims that every man and 
boy should know enough about boxing to be able 
to defend himself if necessary ; so he insisted on 
my taking boxing lessons from the best profes- 
sors he could get. The old gentleman is a pretty 
clever boxer himself, but he kept me at it until 
I could box all around him, before he was satis- 
fied. He used to say to me: ^Now, Frank, I 
donT want to hear of your picking a fuss with 
anybody just to show otf ; that isn’t what I am 
having you taught to box for ; but I want you to 
be handy enough with your fists so if a man in- 
sults you without any cause, you can whip him, 
if he weighs a ton. ’ 

hoped that I would never have occasion to 
use the knowledge I had gained, for it looks to 
me to be the most foolish thing in the world for 
intelligent human beings^ to fight and pound 
each other like the lower animals, but I suppose 
when a fellow is insulted he is so mad, for the 
time being, that he doesn’t care what he does. 
I know I was last night when that big fellow 
came out in the middle of the room and insulted 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 131 


me before everybody. I would have fought him 
if he had weighed a ton, but I tell you I was 
awfully thankful that I knew something about 
defending myself. If I hadnT, I would probably 
have been half killed, for that big brute wouldn T 
have had any mercy on me. ’ ^ 

^^We were all ready to jump in and help if 
you had needed any,’’ said Thad. 

^Ut makes me shiver to think of the narrow 
escapes I ’ve had, ’ ’ remarked Dick. 

‘^When did you have any narrow escapes?” 
inquired Thad in surprise. 

‘‘Why, haven’t you fellows heard me threaten 
to lick Frank two or three times?” 

“That’s so,” said Tom. “You ought to be 
thankful enough for that to cook the remainder 
of the trip. ’ ’ 

“By the time I have cooked a week, you will 
be willing to fight Frank to have me quit.” 

“Well, boys, this won’t take, up the traps,” 
said Thad, arising from the table and picking 
up his rubber boots. 

“That’s so,” said Tom. “And I suppose if 
we have time we might kill some ducks and 
squirrels to take along. We don’t know where 
we’ll stop next.” 

“We can’t take very much fresh meat, can 
we? We haven’t any ice now,” Frank re- 
marked. 

“No, that’s so; only enough for two or three 
days, but that won’t matter. We can kill 


132 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

enough floating down the river ; ducks and geese 
are migrating now/’ replied Thad. 

‘‘Of course we can. I’ll agree to keep the 
camp in meat with the 45 when we get out on the 
Mississippi,” said Tom confidently. 

‘‘Yes, you will! The first Canada goose that 
looks at you will give you the shivers again, and 
you’ll fall off the boat into the river. It will 
keep one man and a skiff busy retrieving you, ’ ’ 
remarked Dick. 

“Nary a shiver. I’ve graduated.” 

“You will get shivers enough, getting off 
sandbars, ’ ’ remarked Thad dryly. 

It was half past ten before Thad, Tom, and 
Frank started after the traps, leaving Dick to 
wash the dishes and get dinner, with Bruno for a 
side partner. Many of the traps had been set in 
other places more remote, making a longer cir- 
cuit, so it was after two o ’clock before the boys 
returned. Dinner over, they first took care of the 
fur caught that morning, and then Thad and 
Tom took their shotguns, Frank the 22, and Dick 
his fishing-rod, and all scattered in various di- 
rections to see what game and fish they could 
pick up. By sundown they had all returned; 
Tom and Thad with eight ducks, Frank with half 
a dozen fat squirrels, and Dick with a fine string 
of bass and crappies. Supper over, they started 
in on the regulation game of chess but, after 
playing fifteen minutes, Frank dropped asleep 
and fell over on the board, causing Dick to re- 
mark; 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 133 

^‘That^s one way to win a game of chess. I 
donT mind giving yon odds of a rook and a 
couple of pawns, but I want to see my men. ’ ^ 

Thad and Tom were almost as sleepy, so 
white and black resigned simultaneously on both 
boards, and the players tumbled into bed to 
make up the sleep lost on their previous night’s 
dissipation. 

^^Boys, I don’t know how the rest of you feel, 
but I am sorry to leave this little corner of the 
world,” Thad remarked next morning, as he 
gazed from the windows of the Greased Light- 
ning far up the quiet little stream flowing si- 
lently out from under the canopy of mosaic fo- 
liage. 

‘‘Yes, it’s a great place to hunt and trap, to 
say nothing of fishing, but think of the fun we ’ll 
have shooting geese on the sandbars out on the 
old Mississippi,” replied Tom. 

‘ ‘ Shooting at geese, ’ ’ corrected Dick. 

“No, sir. Shooting geese right in the dia-^ 
phragm, ’ ’ maintained Tom. 

“I don’t imagine the geese will stay awake 
nights worrying about their diaphragms,” re- 
plied Dick. 

“I hate to leave this place, too; but probably 
we will find other good hunting grounds farther 
down. If we don’t, as Tom said, we will have 
some fun out on the river, ’ ’ said Frank. 

“Boys, I’ll tell you a good name for this 
stream, ’ ’ said Thad, who was still gazing out of 
the window. 


134 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^‘What is 

‘ ^ Tunnel Creek. The way it comes out of the 
woods into the Mississippi— it reminds me of 
the month of a tunnel.’’ 

‘^All right; Tunnel Creek goes,” said Frank, 
propose we call it Fawn Creek,” said Dick, 
looking innocently at Tom. 

‘‘I think Rice Creek would be better,” re- 
turned the latter. 

Dick extended his hand. ‘ ' Shake. Let Thad 
name the old creek.” 

And they did. 

It was nine o’clock before the hoys were 
ready to start. They were about to cast off 
when somebody cried, ^‘H^llo,” and looking up 
they saw George Brown standing on the north 
'hank loaded down with bundles. 

‘ ^ Wliat the nation has that fellow got now ? ’ ’ 
queried Thad in a puzzled tone. 

Tom laughed and pointed to Dick. That in- 
dividual had one of the skitfs untied and was on 
his way across. ‘ ‘ Can ’t you guess ? ’ ’ 

Then Thad laughed. ‘‘Of course, he thinks 
it’s something to eat.” 

“You’ll find he isn’t far wrong, either. He 
can smell something to eat farther than a point- 
er can a woodchock, ’ ’ grinned Tom. 

“Sorry to have you leave, boys,” said Brown, 
as he stepped on board, “but, as you said the 
other night, I suppose you must he getting 
down the river. Mother sent a little reminder 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 135 


of your visit in the shape of a few doughnuts, 
pies, cookies, cake, etc. She thought they might 
come handy when you were floating down the 
river. 

Thad and Tom glanced at each other and in 
spite of themselves broke into a hearty laugh. 
Young Brown looked puzzled and somewhat 
disconcerted at this strange reception of his 
mother’s kindly offering. 

But Thad extended his hand in a frank, cor- 
dial way and said: ‘^Beg pardon, George, we 
were not laughing at you. ’ ’ 

Then he explained Dick’s noted fondness for 
something good to eat, and why he had hastened 
across after the bundles. Brown took in 
the situation at once, and his freckled, good-' 
natured face broadened into a jolly laugh as 
he said: 

^‘Good for Dick. That will tickle mother 
most to death. She likes to cook for folks that 
appreciate it. If she had known of Dick’s weak- 
ness she would probably have sent twice as 
much. ’ ’ 

wish she had known it,” murmured Dick 
softly in such a heartfelt tone that everybody 
laughed, and Brown said: 

'‘If you will hold the boat, Dick, I’ll go back 
after more.” 

"No, thank you,” replied Dick with a sigh; 
"we sail shortly.” 

A brief visit, a clasp of the hand, and their 

i 


136 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


new-found friend was set across to the other 
bank to return to the monotonous drudgery of 
farm work. 

^Only a look and a voice, then darkness 
again and silence,^ Frank murmured half to 
himself as he watched young Brown disappear 
in the forest. 

‘^What are you muttering about F’ inquired 
Tom, as they were pushing off. 

Nothing,’^ replied Frank, as the Greased 
Lightning slowly swung out in the mouth of the 
little stream. 

Commodore Kingston gave his orders, and 
the clumsy craft was soon wafted out upon the 
broad bosom of the Mississippi. 

‘Mt seems good to get out on the old river 
again, if that was a comfortable joint we just 
left,’’ remarked Tom, to whom, brought up on 
its banks, the sight of the big river was as the 
breath of life in his nostrils. 

‘Mt is a jolly old creek,” said Thad. ^‘And 
look at the magnificent colorings of the trees run- 
ning up that bluff. Isn’t it lovely? It isn’t 
everybody that has the opportunity to fioat 
down a picture gallery. ’ ’ 

‘‘I suppose after I had made two or three 
trips down the river, I would be just as enthusi- 
astic as you fellows are over it,” said Frank 
laughing. 

^^Of course you would; you couldn’t help it,” 
replied Tom. ‘^You see, a person has respect 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 137 

for this river; it has some stability about it. 
Now take such a dirty old creek as the Mis- 
souri for instance. That stream is either on a 
big tear, boiling out mud and washing away 
farms and towns and raising Cain on general 
principles because it^s built that way, or iUs 
sulking along fast asleep. It reminds me of an 
old toper. One day he is on a big drunk, rais- 
ing Cain, and after his spree is over he is soggy 
and dead, sleeping it off. But the Mississippi 
goes right along in a respectable way attending 
to business, and when she rises, she doesn’t tear 
things to pieces so.” 

suppose the explanation is that the Mis- 
souri has a swifter current,” remarked Frank. 

‘‘Maybe it has,” replied Tom. “But I’ll al- 
ways think it is just the natural cussedness of 
the critter. It was born that way just like some 
people; they can’t help it.” 

“Like the fellow that Frank had the fun with 
the other night, ’ ’ suggested Dick. 

“If we can keep from chipping off towheads 
and banging our nose into sandbars, we’ll have 
a pretty good time floating along,.” said Thad. 

“Say, Commodore, I’m purser I believe,” 
said Tom, suddenly turning to Thad. 

“Yes.” 

“Part of the purser’s duties is seeing to the 
provisions, isn’t itU’ 

“I believe so,” replied Thad, wondering 
what Tom was driving at. 


138 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘^Just what I thought. I’ll take the 45 and 
sit out here on the promenade deck where I can 
watch for provisions, and the rest of you fel- 
lows can watch for sandbars. ’ ’ 

Five minutes later Tom was comfortably 
seated with his big rifle across his lap, on the 
lookout for any kind of ‘‘provisions,” from a 
mudjturtle to a goose. 

It was a beautiful autumn day, clear and 
cool with a very light north breeze, just enough 
to ruffle the surface of the water a little in 
patches here and there. The air was as exhil- 
arating as wine. It made one feel— to quote 
Dick— “as though he didn’t care a continental 
whether school kept or not, especially when 
floating down the Mississippi.” 

Pretty soon Dick brought out a chair and 
seated himself beside Tom with the remark : 

“I haven’t lost any sandbars; and if you gen- 
tlemen will excuse me, I will burst into song. ’ ’ 
And he struck up : 

“ ‘We will trap the mink and musquash, chase 
the joyous ringtailed coon. 

Thro’ the woods and up a tree we’ll make him 
hum. 

Roast him brown with sweet potatoes rich with 
gravy— what a boon. 

Gather ’round and sniff the fragrance, yum-a 
yum.’ ” 

‘ ‘ What made you start in on the last verse 1 ’ ’ 
said Tom, winking at Thad and Frank, 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 139 


‘ ^ Because it made me think of something good 
to eat. And by the way, Thomas, much obliged 
for mentioning it,’’ and Dick, giving Tom a 
slap on the leg, disappeared in the cabin. 

He emerged presently with a huge slice of 
Mrs. Brown’s frosted cake, and, as he resumed 
his seat and began contentedly to munch it, re- 
marked: 

^ ‘ That all goes to show that two heads a|^bet- 
ter than one, if one is a sap head. I wouldn’t 
have thought of that cake if you hadn’t spoken 
of eating. Much obliged.” 

‘ ‘ Don ’t mention it, ’ ’ murmured Tom. ^ ^ Any- 
thing I can do toward tilling that bottomless 
hole in your stomach, I ’ll do gladly. ’ ’ 

Just then the stentorian voice of the Com- 
modore roared out : 

^^Man the sweeps there, before we knock the 
end off this towhead. Hump yourselves lively 
there. What’s the matter with you?— you move 
like a lot of mud-turtles with the sciatic rheu- 
matism. ’ ’ 

Before Thad’s soul-inspiring harangue was 
ended, Tom and Dick had rushed to the sweeps ; 
the Greased Lightning slowly sidled across the 
current, and missing the towhead by six feet, 
went booming along down the shore of the lit- 
tle island. 

'‘Thad wouldn’t make a bad mate if he once 
got his profanity mill adjusted good,” observed 
Tom, as he seated himself with his rifle. 


140 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^ ‘ The next trip I make, ’ ^ said Dick as he went 
to munching his cake again, ^‘I’m going to be 
Commodore, if I can buy votes enough to elect 
me.’^ 

You are too young to talk politics,’’ replied 
Tom reprovingly, as he raised the rifle to his 
shoulder. 

^‘What are you shooting atU’ inquired 
Frank, coming out of the cabin. 

^‘See the provisions over on that log?” 

At the report of the rifle a mud-turtle flew up 
in the air about fifteen feet and splashed into 
the river, and an instant later a shower of tur- 
tles followed from the old log, as they hur- 
riedly got out of sight. 

‘^You broke up that convention pretty effec- 
tually,” remarked Thad. 

Half a mile farther down, a flock of ducks was 
drifting on the water. Tom tried them at two 
hundred yards, but failed to score. Then Frank 
brought out the 22, and he and Tom pecked 
away at everything they saw. 

So all day they drifted, shooting, singing, 
laughing, chatting, and eating ; happy and care- 
free. Ducks and geese passed them on their 
southern flight, some floating along at a Jiigh 
altitude, and others just skimming the surface 
of the water. Numerous flocks were in the river 
but the boys failed to get any with the rifles. A 
flock passed within easy shotgun range, but, al- 
though Tom and Frank emptied the rifles, no 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 141 

mortality resulted among the ducks. Then 
Thad brought ont a shotgun and set it conve- 
nient, in case any more should invite destruc- 
tion. 

After a while Thad and Frank got into a 
heated argument over the performance of 
Locksley, in splitting the willow with an arrow, 
before Prince John at the tournament. Sud- 
denly they saw Dick snatch up the shotgun and 
pour both barrels into a flock of teal that dashed 
by, knocking five out of the hunch. 

Well, look at Dick; and here we are wasting 
our time arguing over something that probably 
never happened,’’ cried Frank. 

^Hf somebody didn’t ’tend to business here, 
we wouldn’t have anything to eat,” said Dick 
with a look intended to he withering, as he un- 
tied a skiff and went to gather his ducks. 

About an hour before sundown the Greased 
Lightning came out from between two islands 
and entered a broad stretch of river. 

‘ AVe had better tie up for the night when we 
round that bar,” said Thad, pointing to a wide 
sandbar extending out in the river from the 
west shore. 

Suddenly Tom cried: 

‘‘Humped up Jupiter, boys; look at that 
bar !” 

“I see ’em. Slide into the cabin easy, and 
bring the chairs,” said Thad quietly. 

Once inside, Thad took the field-glass and 
peeped out. 


142 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Nineteen big Canada geese taking an after- 
noon nap/’ he announced after looking a mo- 
ment. 

‘ ‘ The first thing is, how near will we drift to 
the bar? We don’t dare to work over,” said 
Tom anxiously. 

‘‘And the next thing is, will the geese stay 
there!” said Dick. 

“We shall have to trust to luck, that’s all,” 
replied Thad. ‘ ‘ It looks as if the current would 
take us to within fifty yards of the bar, and the 
geese are all snoozing apparently, except one 
old gander. We can’t reach them with the 
shotguns, anyhow, for they are forty yards or 
more out on the bar. ’ ’ 

It seemed to the young hunters in their eager- 
ness to get a shot at the geese, that the current 
was unusually sluggish. Dick peeped slyly out 
o£ the window at the geese, fidgeted about im- 
patiently two or three minutes, and broke out: 

“This old tub isn’t going at the rate of a mile 
a week, and I know it. The river will freeze up 
before we get to the geese.” 

“Don’t get impatient,” said Thad; “we are 
going slow but sure, like the traditional mud- 
turtle. ’ ’ 

“Mud- turtle be bio wed! A mud- turtle is a 
race-horse compared to this craft,” grumbled 
Dick. 

Meanwhile, instead of complaining like the 
impatient, headstrong Dick, Tom was engaged 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 143 


in cleaning the 45 and tilling the magazine with 
fresh shells, ^^so he wouldn’t have any excuse 
for missing, ’ ’ as he said. 

^ ^ I don ’t suppose it ’s any use to try them with 
the shotguns, we haven’t anything bigger than 
number 1 shot. I wish we had an old cylinder 
bore muzzle-loader and some wire cartridges; 
we would make things hump,” said Thad. 

We ’ll make them hump hard enough with 
the rifles, whether we kill any or not,” replied 
Tom. 

^‘Tom Evans, if you don’t get a goose out of 
that flock. I’ll heave you overboard, all alone,” 
said Dick severely. 

Tom grinned good-naturedly but said noth- 
ing. He was used to Dick. 

The current of the Mississippi, like the mills 
of the gods, is not particularly noted for speed ; 
but in the expressive slang of the day, ^Ht gets 
there just the same.” Thus the Greased Light- 
ning slowly swung along down the sandbar, 
with four pairs of very sharp, watchful eyes 
aboard. When nearly opposite the geese, a 
feeling of uneasiness was manifest in their 
ranks. One after another, a long, graceful neck 
went up in the air; and a moment later, every 
goose was on its feet watching the noiseless 
houseboat drifting by, with sharp, suspicious 
eyes. It was quite apparent from their uneasy 
actions that the wary Canadas did not intend re- 
maining much longer in that vicinity. 


144 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Tom whispered: ‘^They’re going to fly in a 
minute. I had better step to the door and give 
it to ^em.’’ 

‘‘Yes, shoot,” replied Thad. 

Tom opened the door slightly and, taking a 
quick aim, fired. 

A great flapping of wings and a confused 
gabbling followed, as the geese lifted their great 
bodies from the sand and started off in a south- 
westerly direction, evidently lamenting the fact 
that they hadnT departed a little sooner. Tom 
threw in another shell, flung the door wide open, 
and stepping out on deck, began sending lead 
after the departing wildfowl in a way that 
would have made a Maxim turn green with 
envy. 

Dick, impatient and impulsive, was outside 
in a second, slapping his leg and yelling : 

‘ ‘ Sock it to ’em, Tom ! Sock it to ’em ! Give 
’em every bullet in the magazine ! ’ ’ 

Tom pumped away until the hammer snapped 
with no report, and he knew the gun was empty. 

“That’s every shot in the locker,” he an- 
nounced. “What’s the casualties 

“There are two out where they were sitting 
and another one ’way down on the bar. You 
killed the lower one at the third shot,” said 
Thad. 

“The lower one isn’t dead, either. Get your 
shotgun and come on, Dick,” cried Tom, and 
in a trice he and Dick were after the goose that 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 145 

was making frantic efforts to reach the water, 
although badly disabled. The boys arrived just 
in time for Dick to give it a quietus with the 
shotgun, as it was getting into the river. Then 
they rowed up the bar and picked up the other 
two and returned, catching the Greased Light- 
ning just as Thad and Frank were sliding her 
in toward the other shore, where they were to 
tie up for the night. 

The houseboat was made fast to the bank and 
supper started, for Dick was complaining of 
being ‘Hiollow clear to his boots. 

''Why didn’t you shoot with the 22, Frank!” 
asked Tom. "You might have hit one.” 

Frank smiled. "I did shoot. I saw there 
wasn’t room in the door for both of us, so I slid 
up the window and shot through that, just as 
they raised.” 

Tom looked incredulous. "Is that right! I 
didn’t know you shot at all.” 

"Frank is right,” said Thad. "He told me 
about it after you and Dick left, and I put down 
the window. I shouldn’t be surprised if you 
found a 22 bullet in one of those geese, either. ’ ’ 
"It’s easy to tell,” said Tom. He examined 
the wounds on the birds, and, sure enough, one 
of the geese had been plumped fairly through 
by a 22 ball. Extending his hand, he said, 
"Glad of it, Frank. Shake.” 

When Tom went in to help Dick prepare sup- 
per; he gave that worthy a nudge in the ribs. 


146 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


guess some other folks Tend to business oc- 
casionally, when it comes to gathering in pro- 
visions. ’ ' 

‘^Huh. It was just a scratch, and then I had 
to kill the cripples,’’ Dick retorted, as he went 
on slicing otf the breasts of several fat, juicy 
teal to be broiled for supper. 

‘^Of course. Any old plug can shoot crip- 
ples.” 

^‘Boys, I’m pretty hungry,” warned Frank, 
putting his head in the door. 

Don’t mention it,” said Dick. ‘M’m a liv- 
ing allegory of hunger. But just be patient and 
we’ll have a feast fit for the— I’ll have to ask 
that gentleman’s name again that you used to 
cook for, Tom. ” 

“The Ahkoond of Swat.” 

“That’s it. The Ahsoond of Quat.” 

In half an hour Dick came out where Frank 
and Thad were enjoying the sunset. 

“Supper is now ready in the dining-car. 
Please remember there will be no speech mak- 
ing or toasts responded to until we get some- 
thing in our stomachs.” 

“Anything good for supper”’ inquired 
Thad, as they went in. 

“Well, here’s a platter of fried black bass, 
and a platter of fried teal breasts, and potatoes 
boiled with the jackets on, and coffee guaran- 
teed to float a 45 ball, and bread and butter, and 
a jar of mamma’s preserves, bless her brown 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 147 


eyes, and a dish-pan fnll of Mrs. Brown’s pies 
and cakes and cookies, and — and — but anything 
you don’t see, ask for,” and Dick made a sys- 
tematic attack on the provisions. 

‘‘Boys, wouldn’t it be a wise idea to keep our 
eye on Dick, and when he eats about so long— 
say a couple of hours, to tie his hands'? We 
don’t want him to explode,” remarked Tom. 

“He is safe, boys,” replied Thad, as Dick 
proceeded to decorate his plate with a pound 
and a half bass, two big, mealy potatoes, and 
the crisp, fat breasts of a couple of teal. “I 
used to worry about him considerable, but his 
stomach is like a rubber bag, no limit to the ex- 
pansion.” 

“I wouldn’t have missed this trip for four 
dollars a minute,” said Frank, looking around 
contentedly, his jaws going at a two-forty gait. 

“No, nor four dollars a second; whether we 
hit any sandbars or not, ’ ’ replied Dick. 

But even the appetites of hungry hunters can 
be satisfied, and when the table resembled the 
wreck of a Kansas cyclone, the boys ceased op- 
erations. Thad and Frank washed and wiped 
the dishes, and the boys soon settled down to a 
double game of chess. 

They had played perhaps an hour, when sud- 
denly an ear-splitting scream came from the 
woods that caused every man to look at his 
neighbor inquiringly. The scream seemed to be 
within thirty feet of them. 


148 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. . 

‘‘Boys, III bet thaUs a panther. IVe read 
they have a scream like a woman, whispered 
Frank, his face paling. 

“Sh— keep still a minute,” and Thad raised 
his hand warningly. 

A moment later the cry came again— shrill, 
quavering, and blood-curdling to a tenderfoot. 
Thad and Tom looked at each other and 
laughed. 

“Proceed with the game,” Tom remarked 
with a grin. 

“What is it?” Frank asked wonderingly. 

“A screech owl. They used to screech Dick 
and me to sleep when we were children; but 
they scared the life out of us at first before we 
found out what they were,” said Thad. 

“•Learn a lesson from that bird, my son,” re- 
marked Dick. 

“What kind of a lesson?” asked Frank. 

“That making a great noise in the world 
doesnT necessarily prove that you amount to 
anything. That bit of wisdom applies to birds, 
animals, and men. Y^ou can ponder it over at 
you leisure; in the meantime — check!” And 
the game proceeded once more. 


CHAPTER VII. 


DICK AND THE YELLOW CAT. 

By seven o’clock next morning our young 
v^oyagers had disposed of a hearty breakfast 
and were ready to start on their southward 
journey again. 

‘Hf we don’t have any bad luck such as ad- 
verse winds, roosting on sandbars, and so forth, 
we ought to make twenty-five or thirty miles 
to-day,” Thad remarked. 

We will suppose we are Joliet and Mar- 
quette exploring the Mississippi,” said Frank. 

wouldn’t mind running against a big cat- 
fish, as Parkman says they did when they struck 
the» river at the mouth of the Wisconsin, if we 
could hook the critter and have him tow us down 
the river,” said Dick. 

^‘If it happened to be one of the large sizes, 
we might get towed onto a sandbar, or out in 
the woods,” replied Tom. 


150 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Do catfish grow, very large in the Missis- 
sippi!^^ inquired Frank. 

“I should say so. Some of them are as big 
as a yearling steer. ’ ’ 

“How much do they weigh!’’ 

“They have been caught up to two hundred 
and fifty pounds that I know of,” said Tom. 

‘ ‘ Gee ! They are young whales, aren ’t they ! ^ ’ 
said Frank. 

“Say, boys,” said Thad, “I’ll tell you what 
let’s do. When we get out in the channel, let’s 
tie a couple of the biggest hooks on that big fish- 
line, fasten them to cane poles, and let them 
drift along with us. We can cork up a couple 
of empty jugs for floats, and any kind of meat 
will do for bait. Catfish will swallow anything 
from a muskrat to a fence post. ’ ’ 

“Good idea, and it won’t cost anything to try, 
it,” replied Tom approvingly. 

A few moments later the sweeps, aided by the 
current, carried the Greased Lightning out 
from the shadows of the forest onto the gentle 
bosom of the Mississippi. When well out in the 
channel, the boys took soundings and found 
from ten to fourteen feet of water. 

A pair of the largest hooks and lines were 
tied to cane poles which were fastened one at 
each end of the boat, so the poles were just 
above the water. Seven or eight feet from the 
hooks the lines were tied to the handles of 
empty corked jugs, which acted as floats, en- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 151 


abling the boys to see more easily when they 
had a bite. The hooks were baited with large 
pieces of meat, and everything was ready for 
the killing of a big catfish. 

Then the boys settled down to the pleasant 
and profitable occupation of loafing, watching 
the jugs, and discussing the wide river and its 
various features of interest, not the least of 
which was the superb coloring of the leaves 
that draped the forest-crowned bluffs. Tom 
and Frank brought out the rifles and proceeded 
to make things interesting for mud-turtles, 
crows, hawks, and ducks that showed up. 

The Greased Lightning had drifted half a 
mile when Dick suddenly cried out : ‘ ^ Boys, this 
hook has caught on something ; probably an old 
sunken tree. See the jug go down.’’ 

‘‘Maybe it is one of those big catfish you fel- 
lows have been stuffing me about, ’ ’ said Frank. 

“Catfish nothing! Fish don’t bite that way. 
AVhy the jug went down just as if somebody had 
fastened on to it with a rope and windlass. 
It’s a water-soaked log or a sunken tree, all 
right enough.” 

“\Von’t it break the hook or line?” inquired 
Frank. 

‘ ‘ Something will have to come when the boat 
drifts far enough,” replied Dick. 

“Say, Dick, your snag is moving,” called 
Tom. 

“Not very far I guess. You can’t fool your 
pap that way,” Dick replied. 


152 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘^Just the same it is moving/’ said Thad. 

You had better get into the skiff, unfasten the 
pole, and go out to investigate. It doesn’t act 
like a respectable Mississippi snag.” 

Dick was as stubborn as he was impulsive. He 
had made up his mind from the first that it was 
a snag, and he was loath to change his decision ; 
but when the jug was out to the limit of the 
line and the pole began to bend under the strain, 
Dick had to admit that the proceeding was a 
little off color for an ordinary snag ; and spring- 
ing into a skiff, took the pole and started out to 
see what caused his snag to act so. He pulled 
hand over hand on the line until out where the 
identity of his snag was concealed under sev- 
eral feet of water. Once there he pulled with all 
his strength, trying to bring it to the surface, 
but he might just as well have pulled on the cor- 
ner of a brick house. Then he was more con- 
vinced than ever that it was a genuine snag, 
and he was greatly disgusted to think the boys 
had caused him to partially change his mind. 

^‘This is an exceedingly lively fish,” he re- 
marked sarcastically. ‘^You are a bright lot, 
you fellows. Just because the boat swung over 
a little, you thought this old log was a whale 
swimming off with you. You ought to have 
your heads examined.” 

At this juncture, however, Dick’s satirical 
eloquence received a check, for the snag sud- 
denly started up stream at a fairly lively gait. 


FOUR. BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 153 


towing skiff, Dick, and all to that gentleman’s 
great surprise. 

The other boys roared with laughter, and 
Tom sang out: 

Good-bye, Dick. We’ll be on the watch for 
you in the spring when you come drifting along 
down with the ice. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Say, Dick, is that saw-log from Beef Slough 
or Catfish Bay?” yelled Thad. 

Dick, however, was too much astonished and 
interested to reply to these facetious remarks. 
After towing him up stream some distance, the 
motive power evidently discovered the fact that 
it was hard work, and turning about, started 
for St. Louis. 

As Dick holding a taut line passed the 
Greased Lightning, he called out: ‘‘Any mes- 
sage you fellows want to send down home?” 

“Yes. Tell them Mrs. Brown’s cake and pie 
were just delicious; we enjoyed them greatly. 
We’ll probably get a chance to see what they 
taste like now,” cried Tom. 

“Gosh all hemlock! I forgot all about that 
cake and pie. I can’t leave them for an old 
fish or a whale. Say, Tom, get the other skiff 
and come out here and relieve me; it’s just 
fun. ’ ’ 

“No, thanks. I’m enjoying myself hugely.” 

“What do you think Dick has got hold of, 
anyhow?” asked Frank. 

“The chances are it’s a big catfish, though it 


154 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


might be a rubber-nose sturgeon or some other 
variety of fish. Whatever it is it must be a 
whale to haul Dick and that boat around over 
the river so easily/^ replied Tom. 

Maybe iUs a sea serpent/’ hazarded Frank. 

‘‘Hardly.” 

“Don’t you ever have sea serpent stories out 
here on the river 1 ’ ’ 

“No; people have to breathe salt air before 
they can be big enough liars to tell sea serpent 
yarns,” replied Thad. 

“Dick’s horse has balked again,” said Tom. 
‘ ‘ Say, Dick, have you got a glimpse of him 
yet % ’ ’ 

“Nary a glimpse. Seems to be averse to so- 
ciety for some reason. ’ ’ 

“Pretty husky saw-log, isn’t it!” called 
Thad. 

“Oh, you close your pie trap,” retorted Dick 
independently, as his captive got up steam once 
more and started on. 

“Shall I come out and play him awhile?” 
asked Frank. 

“I’m afraid you haven’t skill enough. It 
takes an old-timer to play this fish.” 

“That’s so. It requires about as much skill 
as it does to hold one end of a clothes-line in 
the back yard,” remarked Tom. 

“You come out here and you will think you 
have both ends of a clothes-line. ’ ’ 

“Is there any show to shoot him?” inquired 
Tom. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 155 


‘^Not unless you want to dive down in the 
water with a gun/’ replied Dick. 

His captive slowed up a little, and finally 
stopped. Dick pulled until his arms ached, try- 
ing to get it to the surface, but in vain. Then 
that young gentleman got hostile and pro- 
ceeded to speak his mind to his mates in a for- 
cible if not elegant manner. The flood gates of 
his oratory opened to the limit as he pointed 
out to the hoys the error of their ways in al- 
lowing him to be dragged around over the river 
by a big catfish while they sat comfortably on 
the boat and egged it on. 

When Dick had delivered himself of thi^. 
burst of eloquence he looked up to see how his 
comrades took his scathing rebuke. He fully 
expected to see a crestfallen-looking lot of boys, 
but to his utter disgust each of the three ras- 
cals was comfortably seated, munching a big 
slice of jelly cake; and when Dick ended his 
diatribe they all struck up : 

‘‘ ^ We’ll be happy we’ll be gay, care and trouble 
get away. 

And we’ll chase the juicy catfish from his lair. 
We will eat him tail and feathers, and we’ll top 
off with a bass. 

And we ’ll pull the royal mallard from the air. ’ ’ ’ 

Dick was inclined to get mad at first, but the 
humorous side of the absurd situation— being 
pulled around the river by a fish, or, in other 
words, being played by a fish instead of play- 


156 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


ing the fish according to custom— gradually 
dawned upon him and he laughed in spite of 
himself. 

^‘You fellows think yon are smart, donT you? 
That is all a person might expect from an ig- 
norant lot of roustabouts, working for thirteen 
dollars a month and board; but I’ll get even 
with you, sure as my name’s Dick Kingston.” 

Your name will be Dennis if you don’t land 
that fish pretty soon,” replied Tom. 

^^We are getting awful good board, Dick,” 
called Thad; ‘^only trouble, the jelly isn’t quite 
thick enough on this cake.” 

^^You can’t blame me; I wanted to help but 
you insisted that I didn’t have enough skill,” 
said Frank consolingly. 

At that moment Dick gave a particularly vi- 
cious pull at his captive, the line broke, and the 
fish went one way and the fisherman the other. 
Head over heels backward Dick went, the light 
skitf dipped and filled with water and in a sec- 
ond more the valiant fisherman was floundering 
in the chilly water of the Mississippi. Thad 
and Tom had the other skitf loose in a trice and 
went to Dick’s assistance. That gentleman, wet 
through, chilled, and disgusted, began, when the' 
boys hauled him into the skitf, to anathematize 
fish, skiffs, boys, houseboats, and everything 
else, in boy fashion. 

‘‘Tut, tut, Dick, don’t swear; you won’t catcli, 
any fish,” said Tom with a grin, as he took the 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 157 


painter of the submerged skiff and Thad pulled, 
for the Greased Lightning. 

^‘Drat the fish ; I’d like to put a 45-70 through 
his backbone,” said Dick vengefully, as he 
climbed aboard and hurried to change his 
clothes. 

^^Too bad we lost the fish. I would like to 
have had a glimpse of him and seen what he 
looks like,” said Frank regretfully. 

^^The fish isn’t lost. We’ll get him all right; 
don’t you see the jug bobbing around out 
there!” said Thad, pointing over the water. 

That’s so. I didn’t think of the jug’s telling 
us where he was.” 

Just then Dick poked his head out of the 
door. 

Don’t you critters dare to go after that fish 
without me. I’m going to help capture him if 
I drown for it.” 

‘‘All right, Dick, we’ll wait for you,” said 
Tom, grinning at the other boys. “Only don’t 
wait to eat all the cake and pie. ’ ’ 

Dick was soon into dry clothing, and seizing 
the big rifle in one hand and a chunk of cake in 
the other, he cried out: 

“Now take me out to that old catfish and pull 
him to the top of the water, and I’ll bore fifteen 
holes in his blamed carcass. I’ll show him that 
he waked up the wrong passenger. ’ ’ 

“Come on, Tom, and we’ll help the boy get 
his fish ; Frank, you can run the Greased Light- 
ning a few minutes, I guess, ’ ’ said Thad. 


158 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI; 

^^Sure thing. I can get it onto a sandbar if 
anybody can, ’ ’ Frank replied. 

‘‘Come on, Tom, or do we have to wait for 
Dick to eat that piece of cake ? ’ ’ 

“Go ahead with yonr rat killing; I’m with 
you. Do you suppose it takes me a week to eat 
a bit of cake the size of my thumb nail I” said 
Dick, starting for the large skitf . 

‘ ‘ Good Heavens, have we another Falstatf ? ’ ’ 
cried Thad. 

Tom, whose Shakespearian education had 
been neglected replied: 

“I don’t know what you call him, but if that 
piece of cake wasn’t big as a brick. I’ll eat the 

The boys pulled out to where the tell-tale jug 
was slowly moving through the water. Then 
Thad and Tom went to the stern, Thad saying 
quietly, as he took the jug by the handle : 

“Now, Dick, stand ready with the rifle and 
if we get him to the top of the water, bore a 
hole through his backbone right back of the 
neck. No use to shoot at his brains, he hasn’t 
any; be careful and don’t shoot us.” 

“JPull away. I’ll be careful,” Dick replied 
coolly. 

Thad and Tom began to pull slowly and stead- 
ily. The big fish was evidently tired from the 
exertion of dragging Dick and the skitf to and 
fro, and allowed the boys to draw him to the 
surface. Just as the huge, yellow body ap- 



Quickly followinc; the report of the rifle, the eager watch- 
ers saw the animal make a short side jum]) 

(Page 226) 




FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 159 

peared in sight and Dick threw np the rifle to 
shoot, there was a slash of the mighty tail, 
throwing spray all over the boys, and the cap- 
tive disappeared from sight in a twinkling, tak- 
ing the jug along with him. 

‘‘WhaUs the matter with you fellows? Can’t 
two of you hold a sunfish with a clothes-line?” 
inquired Dick ironically. 

‘‘It seems not. You can come and help hold 
the clothes-line if you want to, and I’ll do the 
shooting, ’ ’ replied Tom, wiping the water from 
his face. 

“Not much. I’ve had all the fun I want; 
go ahead and try again,” replied Dick, grin- 
ning audibly at Thad’s and Tom’s discomfort. 

“Did you get a glimpse of him?” inquired 
Thad. 

“Yes, and he was as big as a smokehouse,” 
said Dick. 

“Why didn’t you shoot? We can’t hold him 
here a week,” said Tom. 

“No, it seems not,” said Dick demurely, “but 
you see I’ve got to have time to pull the trig- 
ger. ’ ’ 

“Don’t brag any more about your being 
a quick woodcock shot,” remarked Thad. 

“Huh, a woodcock is a small snail compared 
to the way this critter went out of sight,” re- 
plied Dick, “but just get him up once more and 
I’ll blow a hole in the water anyhow; maybe I 
can stun him.” 


i6o FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


The jug soon bobbed up a few yards away, 
and the boys went cautiously after it. They 
soon were giving another exhibition of derrick 
work. The instant he caught a glimpse of the 
yellowish mass, Dick banged away. There was 
another commotion, another splash, and the 
boys were alone, Tom and Thad ruefully look- 
ing for a towel or handkerchief to get the water 
off their faces and clothes. The impact of 
Dick^s charge on the water and the splash of 
the fish when he went down had given Thad and 
Tom a moderate shower bath. 

‘‘WliaUs the matter, didn’t Dick hit him!” 
inquired Thad after the water was out of his 
eyes so he could see. 

Guess not,” replied Tom. ^‘What’s the 
matter with you, boy; can’t you hit a kerosene 
barrel at four feet? You are liable to lose your 
job,” said Tom severely, turning to Dick. 

^ ^ I did hit him, ’ ’ maintained Dick stoutly. ‘ ‘ 1 
bored an inch hole right through his head, but 
that’s all the good it did; might as well shoot a 
hole in an inch plank and expect it to die. ’ ’ 

4 ^‘We must have him hooked awfully good or 
he would have broken loose with all this fighting 
and powwow,” said Thad. 

^‘There’s the jug up again; give me another 
show and I’ll see if I can get a welt at his back- 
bone, ’ ’ said Dick. 

‘ ‘ This fun is getting a little monotonous ; try 
and finish him next time, Dick,” said Tom, as 
they pulled up to the jug again. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. i6i 


Dick’s shot seemed to have discouraged the 
huge fish, for it allowed the boys to drag it to 
the surface, where it lay like a log. Dick 
quickly sent a 45 ball through its spine and the 
great yellow mass lay motionless on the water. 

‘‘Gee, but ain’t he a socker! We’ll have to 
tow him to the boat; we can never pull him in 
the skiff, ’ ’ said Thad, surveying their fish in as- 
tonishment. 

“That’s the best way; in fact it’s the only 
wa^ I can think of. You hang on to the line, 
Thad, and I’ll row,” replied Tom, taking the 
oars. 

“Why didn’t we think to bring the gaff? 
There is one on the boat,” said Thad suddenly. 

“That’s so; I never thought of it,” replied 
Tom. ‘ ‘ Dick was so anxious to shoot it though, 
I don’t suppose he would have taken the gaff 
anyhow.” 

“We’ll need it to help land the fish,” said 
Thad. “Frank,” he called over the water, 
“have the gaff ready.” 

Frank disappeared in the cabin and as the 
boys came slowly alongside, towing the big 
fish, laughing and joking, he came out on deck 
looking red and uncomfortable. 

“Say, Thad,” he blurted out, “what does a 
gaff look like? I wouldn’t know one from a rail 
fence. ’ ’ 

The boys stopped and stared at this confes- 
sion of ignorance, then Tom and Dick burst 
out laughing. 


i 62 four boys on the MISSISSIPPI. 


^‘Well, I’ll be switched; that spooney don’t 
know what a gaff is. O Lordy ! ’ ’ and Tom went 
off in a fresh convulsion of merriment while 
Frank got a little redder. 

Thad handed the line to Tom and sprang on 
deck, saying severely: 

That’s enough of that. You two smarties 
let up or I’ll put you both in irons for the bal- 
ance of the day. You ought to have more sense 
than to laugh at a person for what he doesn’t 
know. A fellow can’t be expected to know eve- 
rything. Frank could take you chaps to New 
York City and in five minutes make monkeys 
and simpletons of both of you. ’ ’ 

Frank cast a grateful look at Thad for his 
friendly interference, and Tom, who had never 
been in a large city in his life, sobered down 
with the remark: guess that’s no dream 

either; I would be lost in a big city.” 

Dick, who was always ready to atone for his 
impulsiveness when it wounded any one’s feel- 
ings, said penitently, as he stepped on board 
and extended his hand to his blushing comrade : 

“Beg your pardon, Frank, for our rudeness. 
Thad is right, as he always is. Tom and I were 
a couple of chumps to poke fun at you and act 
wise just because we happened to know some- 
thing you didn’t. If we ever happen in your 
city, you will serve us just right by paying us 
back in our own coin.” 

“Oh, that’s all right,” returned Frank, his 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 163 


distressed expression giving place to the old 
happy look. ‘‘I am to blame for not knowing 
what a gatf is, for I have run across the word 
lots of times in stories, but never took the 
trouble to look it up and see what it meant. ’ ^ 

(Youthful reader, stick a pin here. When you 
find a word new to you, instead of skipping it 
or guessing at the meaning, consult a dictionary 
at once, or if none is at hand, jot down the 
strange word and look it up at your earliest con- 
venience. That bit of trouble may save you 
some ludicrous expressions and much vexation 
of spirit in after years.) 

In a minute Thad came out with the gatf, and 
hooking the big cat in the gills, cried out : 

^ ‘ Get hold of here, Frank. ’ ^ 

It required the strength of both boys to puil 
the monster on deck, and it ivas a monster; a 
huge, ill-shapen mass of flesh of a dull yellowish 
color. 

‘^Jumping Jackson! but isn’t he a whale 
though?” cried Tom. 

^ ‘ Gee-miminy, but it’s a buster! It’s got a 
mouth like a rain-barrel,” said Dick in aston- 
ishment. 

‘^Or a cellar door,” suggested Frank. 

‘‘Say, boys,” mused Tom, contemplating the 
enormous head and mouth, “I’d like to have this 
fellow alive and watch him and Dick eat a race ; 
from the size of the opening in his mug the 
critter ought to put up a husky race.” 


i 64 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Thad shook his head. ‘^No use ; Dick would 
eat all around him. This critter is all mouth, 
but Dick is all stomach, and that is what counts. ’ ’ 

‘‘You two fellows must be a near relative of 
that catfish ; you seem to be mostly all mouth, ’ ^ 
retorted Dick, and with that shot he disappeared 
in the cabin, soon emerging with a piece of pie. 

“Now we have caught this fellow, what in the 
world will we do with him? We donT want to 
eat him, or at least I don’t,’’ remarked Tom. 

“I should say not. I would as lief eat a 
snake,” said Dick in disgust. 

“Aren’t they good for food?” inquired 
Frank. 

“Some folks eat them,” replied Thad, “but 
these big, yellow fellows are awfully coarse and 
rank. They feed on everything from a rotten 
muskrat to the corpse of a baby.” 

“Ugh, excuse me,” said Prank, shuddering. 

“ I ’ll tell you what we will do with it, boys, ’ ’ 
said Thad. 

“What?’’ 

Thad pointed down the river about a mile. 
“Do you see that church spire? Evidently 
there is a little town. We will stop and sell the 
gentleman to somebody. If there are any fish- 
ermen, we can sell it to them for something. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ That ’s the best way to get rid of it I guess, 
besides we ’ll get a little something out of the old 
fellow,” said Tom. 

‘ ‘ What will he weigh ? ’ ’ asked Prank, survey- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 165 


ing the huge, yellow mass with a feeling of re- 
pulsion. 

Thad guessed one hundred and fifty, Tom one 
hundred and seventy -five, and Dick one hundred 
and ninety. 

The hoys put out the lines again while drift- 
ing along down to the village, and caught two 
channel cats, weighing six to eight pounds each. 

‘ ^ These blue gentlemen are all right, and we ’ll 
have a big slice of them rolled in corn meal and 
fried for dinner soon as we pass that town ; the 
sooner fish are cooked after they are out of the 
water the better, ’ ’ said Dick, looking wise as he 
eyed the blue cats hungrily. 

The Greased Lightning drifted along slowly 
but surely. When near the landing the boys 
saw a couple of fishermen cleaning the morn- 
ing’s catch. 

Hello. Want to buy any fish?” cried Thad, 
as they came alongside. 

One of the men looked up. dunno. What 
kind you got ? ’ ’ 

Thad touched the big fish with his foot. 

The fisherman lauglied and said: ^Hs that 
all?” 

‘Hsn’t that enough?” said Thad, smiling. 

^ Ht ’s enough of the kind. What do you want 
for it?” 

‘ ^ Two cents a pound the way it lies. ’ ’ 

The man said something to his partner in a 
low tone. The latter nodded. 


i66 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^ ‘ All right ; we ’ll take it. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Got any scales handy ? ’ ’ inquired Thad. 

The fisherman pointed to a small shanty a few 
feet distant, upon which was emblazoned in flar- 
ing letters : ^ ^ fish makket. ’ ’ 

The big cat was put on the scales and bal- 
anced up one hundred and sixty-two pounds. 

^ ^ It ’s the biggest cat I ever got hold of on the 
upper river,” the boys heard the fisherman re- 
mark to his partner, after he had paid Thad his 
three dollars and twenty-four cents. 

^ ^ What do you do with those big fish ? ’ ’ Frank 
ventured to remark as they were pushing off. 

‘^Oh, smoke ’em, cut ’em up into steak and 
sell it for smoked halibut or smoked sturgeon 
or whatever kind of smoked fish sells the best ; 
we ain ’t particular what we call it, ’ ’ replied the 
fisherman with a grin and a wink. And the 
boys floated on. 

‘ ^ I thought you fellows told me catfish 
sometimes weighed two hundred and fifty 
pounds,” remarked Frank after they were out 
in the current and under way again. 

^‘They do,” replied Tom, ‘^but those biggest 
fellows are down in the lower river where the 
water is deeper. This one is about as big as 
they catch them up here. ” ’ 

‘‘I thought everybody out in the country was 
honest, but that old fisherman didn’t talk very 
honest, selling catfish for sturgeon or halibut,” 
said Frank innocently. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 167 

The other three boys looked at each other and 
grinned. 

Dick said gravely : 

^‘That is one of the tricks of the trade; but, 
my son, I warn you to revise your opinion of the 
honesty of country people; it is altogether too 
old-fashioned. The reason country folks are not 
as mean as city people is because their wits 
haven T got sharpened down to such a fine point ; 
but they are an awful good second, and growing 
faster than pumpkins in June. Look at Thad 
and Tom there; jewing a couple of homesick 
boys down on this boat until they got it for next 
to nothing. ’ ’ 

‘‘They didn’t have to take it unless they 
wanted to,” retorted Thad. 

“No, that’s so,” admitted Dick. “I suppose 
business is business and the devil gets the hind- 
most. Anyhow, as far as I’ve got in this world 
it seems to be a dog-eat-dog sort of a country, 
and the one with the biggest stomach, so to 
speak, gets the most. ’ ’ 

“Then you will be provided for plenty,” in- 
terrupted Tom. 

Dick’s advice to Frank, and his dissertation 
on the wickedness and deceit of humanity in 
general, was delivered with the most dense 
gravity, but Tom’s remark broke up the meet- 
ing. Everybody laughed, Dick included. 

“I should think you fellows would give my 
stomach a rest. ’ ’ 


i68 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘HUs a wonder yon wouIdnT give it a rest 
yourself/’ replied Thad. 

“That makes me think, by the time we get 
these fish skinned, dressed, and cooked, it will be 
time to eat again ; I ’ll get the nippers, ’ ’ and 
Dick went after that useful article. 

“Here is an example of how history repeats 
itself,” remarked Frank, as he watched with 
absorbing interest Dick and Tom going through 
the process of ‘‘ ‘ skinning the cat. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ How do you mean ? ’ ’ asked Thad. 

“Why, you know, Joliet and Marquette col- 
lided with a big catfish when they struck the 
Mississippi, and we did the same thing this 
morning. ’ ’ 

“Dick did the collide-act mostly,” said Tom. 

“Dick does everything mostly; if I didn’t get 
a move on me we wouldn’t get half enough to 
eat, ’ ’ remarked that worthy energetically, as he 
tore strips of tough skin from the catfish. 

“Let’s see,” mused Thad. “Joliet and Mar- 
quete explored this old creek in June, 1673, a 
little over two hundred years ago. How would 
you like to have floated down then? Great 
times, eh Frank?” 

^ ‘ I am afraid the times would have been a lit- 
tle too great for comfort with the woods full of 
panthers, bears, wolves, and other wild animals. 
I think I prefer the trip now ; more comfort and 
less game. A person isn ’t shivering all the time 
for fear of getting chewed up or scalped. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 169 


“Tom and his 45-70 would have been daisies 
then, wouldn’t they? If he gets scared to death 
and falls otf a log and runs his gun in the mud 
at sight of a little fawn, wouldn’t he be a lovely 
crawfish to have along on a trip like those fel- 
lows took?” observed Dick, giving Tom a sly 
poke. 

^ ‘ There now, that will do, son ; run in and cook 
your catfish, and you might cook a little rice, 
too— if you have washtubs enough to hold it,” 
returned Tom calmly. 


CHAPTER VIIL 


QUAIL SHOOTING ON THE ISLAND. 

When the savory odor of frying fish floated 
through the houseboat, the boys all agreed that 
it made them hungry, even if it was a channel 
cat. They were passing down the west side of 
a large, wooded island at the time, and the 
clean, sandy beach sloping down to the water 
looked so inviting that Thad said : 

^^Let^s land on this island, eat our dinner, and 
gather some wild grapes. There are oceans of 
them and they ought to be good now after the 
frosts. ’ ’ 

Everybody, down to the slush cook, agreed 
with a shout, and soon the Greased Lightning 
was sliding across the current and quickly 
grated on the sand. Then Dick announced din- 
ner and the boys fell to, with the keen zest of 
youthful appetites sharpened to a razor-edgC by 
the crisp autumn air. Thad, as usual, finished 
the meal first, and stepping outside remarked: 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 171 


‘‘Where is Bruno I He must be ashore ex- 
ploring. ’ ^ 

He whistled several times, but no Bruno ap- 
peared. Springing ashore Thad ran up the 
bank and disappeared. In two minutes he came 
running down and sprang aboard, his eyes 
sparkling. 

‘ ‘ Say, boys, Bruno has got something. He is 
on a point stiff as a workbench. Just saw his 
tail through the top of the weeds. Get the guns 
and come on.’^ 

“What do you think it isV’ Frank asked, as 
they made a dash for the fowling-pieces. 

“Either quail or pheasant. Number 8’s, 
Frank,’’ and Thad hurriedly grabbed the gun 
and a pocketful of shells. 

‘ ‘ Go ahead, boys, I ’ll be there in a minute ; I 
can’t leave this fish just yet,” called Dick, as 
Thad, Tom, and Frank disappeared over the 
bank. Bruno, graceful as a marble image, 
stood in a little clearing, his back and tail just 
visible above the weeds. Occasionally he slowly 
turned his head to see if the boys were coming. 

“Steady, boy,” and Thad walked quietly up 
to him. “Easy now; go on. Be ready, boys.” 

Bruno took a step forward, when with a roar- 
ing whirr, a cloud of quail took wing and darted 
through the open timber. Then Dick heard a 
fusillade that caused him to drop a crisp piece 
of fish and grab his gun. . 

“How many did we get?” asked Thad when 
everybody had emptied his gun. 


172 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘H killed one that I know of/’ said Tom, who 
was hurriedly putting in fresh shells for fear 
another quail might appear. 

saw two or three fall, but I don’t know 
who killed them; I was badly flustered— there 
were so many of them. I never saw such a 
swad before,” said Frank, laughing. 

Bruno retrieved four dead birds just as Dick’s 
round face, shining with fish-oil and content- 
ment, appeared above the bank. 

‘ ‘Hold on, I want some quail on toast, too. ’ ’ 

“How did you manage to tear yourself away 
from that fish?” asked Thad. 

“I couldn’t stand the pressure to hear all 
those guns, and most of the fish is inside of me 
anyhow. How many did you get ? ’ ’ The boys 
showed four birds. “That’s good for a starter. 
Did you mark them down?” 

“Yes, they only went about a hundred yards 
in the open timber, ’ ’ Tom replied. 

“Come on then and we’ll have quail on toast 
for supper,” Dick called. As they neared the 
place where the birds had dropped, Bruno 
stopped and pointed. 

“It’s your turn, Dick.” 

MTiirr! bang! and Dick dropped his quail. 
Whirr ! bang ! and he grassed another. 

“It heats all, how a duck-legged animal with 
his face all fish-grease like you, can shoot,” 
quoth Tom. 

“I don’t shoot with my face or my legs,” and 
Dick coupled up his reloaded gun. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 173 

'‘Try it next, Frank,’' said Tliad. 

Brnno was moving cautiously, half pointing 
all the time. 

Whirr! a quail darted up. Frank threw up 
his gun and vainly tried to get aim at the flee- 
ing mark, but the bird wouldn ’t stay in one place 
long enough. Whirr ! another bunch of brown 
flashed away. Again Frank threw up his gun, 
then he lowered it and laughed in a chagrined 
way. "No use, boys; I can’t get aim on those 
chaps; they don’t stay in one place long 
enough. ’ ’ 

"Get aim nothing. You can’t expect to get 
aim. Just throw the gun to your face and point 
it somewhere in the direction of a brown streak 
and whale away,” said Dick. 

' ' Is that the way ? I supposed you wanted to 
see the bird over the sights. ’ ’ 

"You may want to, but you don’t have time. 
Life is too short to waste it in shutting the left 
eye and trying to get a dead bead on a quail that 
isn’t in range more than five seconds. You 
wouldn’t get a quail in seven years if you 
waited to see it over the sights,” Dick replied. 

"Dick is right, Frank. You must throw the 
gun to your face and shoot whether the gun is on 
the bird or not. They are such quick little ras- 
cals that you don ’t have time to better your aim. 
If you miss, charge it to experience and try to dd 
better next time. Practice makes perfect after 
you are on the right track. ’ ’ 


174 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Frank laughed. “All right; I hi blow a hole 
in the air next time whether I get aim or not. 
But it is Tom^s turn now; I hi scare all the quail 
out of the country before you fellows kill 
enough for supper. Better go ahead and get 
what you want before I m.ake a show of myself 
again. ’ ’ 

“There are plenty of quail. I don’t doubt 
the island is alive with them,” said Thad. 

Just then three birds whirred up, and Tom 
missed with his first barrel and killed with the 
second. Thad reversed this, and killed with 
his first, missing with the second barrel. 

“Can’t any of us get them every time, 
Frank,” he said as he inserted fresh shells. 

The quail were well scattered, and every few 
moments one or two darted up at their feet. 

Frank tried again and again, but only suc- 
ceeded in shooting the air full of holes. Finally 
he knocked a bird down with his second barrel 
and at once grew a foot and said so. 

“Wait a minute and you will shrink that foot 
and another one on top of it,” remarked Dick. 

And he was right. Quail seemed to be every- 
where, darting up squarely in front of them. 
Frank shot whenever a bird was near him or the 
other guns were empty. After emptying his 
gun a dozen times with no results, he laughed 
and said : 

“You are a prophet, Dick. I’ve shrunk to 
four feet now, but it’s great fun.” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 175 


^^Keep slamming away/^ said Thad, ^‘and 
don’t be the least bit anxious whether you hit or 
miss.” 

The boys walked along fifty yards without 
seeing anything, then Bruno suddenly turned to 
a graven image. 

‘‘Here’s another bevy, boys. Bruno acts un- 
usually interested, ’ ’ said Thad in a low tone. 

He had barely spoken when a number of big, 
brown birds darted up and went through the 
trees like rockets. Tom, Dick, and Thad let go 
every barrel, but Frank’s mind failed to act 
quickly enough and he didn ’t shoot. 

“You must be quicker on the trigger, Frank,” 
called Thad. 

“I know it,” said Frank, looking chagrined, 
‘ ‘ but they got up so quick it knocked me otf my 
pins ; what were they f ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Pheasants, ’ ’ replied Tom. 

As he spoke, a belated straggler sprang up 
and darted away before any one had time to 
change shells. 

“Paste him, Frank; knock the stuffing out of 
him,” yelled Dick. 

Frank cut loose and scored a miss. He 
smashed away with the other barrel just as the 
big bird went through a small tree top sixty 
yards distant, and had the unutterable joy of 
seeing it crash down through the branches. 

“How is that for a tenderfoot!” he cried, his 
face all smiles. 


176 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘ ‘ Bully for Frank, ’ ’ shouted Dick. 

‘ ‘ Maybe he did better than the rest of us, but 
1 killed my bird, ’ ’ said Thad. 

‘ ‘ I killed mine dead as a smelt, ’ ’ said Tom. 

‘ ‘ I smashed the daylights out of mine ; he fell 
right against that little birch tree over there, 
und Dick indicated the tree with his finger. 

^‘You did in a horn. I killed that bird,’’ said 
Tom indignantly. 

‘‘Not by a jugful. That fellow dropped when 
my gun cracked,” Dick maintained stoutly. 

‘ ‘ Hold on there, you fellows. I want a finger 
in that pie. I killed that bird myself,” said 
Thad. 

The three boys stared at each other a moment 
defiantly, then a light dawned on them, and they 
all laughed. They had all shot at the same bird 
with the first barrel. 

“That’s a pretty note for you fellows to shoot 
at my bird, ’ ’ said Dick. 

“Too bad, Dick, but it ought to be awful 
dead, ’ ’ replied Thad. 

“I feel mighty scrumptious over that scratch 
shot of mine; if I don,’t watch myself I’ll be 
bragging worse than Dick used to over his wood- 
cock that Thad tells about, ’ ’ laughed Frank. 

“I guess not. If I thought so, we would leave 
you right here on the island, ’ ’ said Thad. 

After picking up the two grouse, they made a 
circuit to the place where they started the first 
bevy, routing out three more large bunches on 
the way. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 177 

P ausing in a little glade, the game was count- 
ed— twenty-eight quail and two grouse. 

^ ‘ That is all we can use now, let ’s stop, ’ ’ said 
Thad. 

‘ ^ Say, boys, we wanted some grapes and there 
they are,^^ said Dick, pointing to a low tree a 
few yards distant festooned with grape-vines 
loaded down with purple fruit. 

In two minutes everybody was eating grapes 
with a keen relish. 

^ ‘ Gee ! but these are the biggest and sweetest 
wild grapes I ever tasted; almost as big and 
sweet as Concords,’’ remarked Dick, his mouth 
taking in fruit with the rapidity of a cider mill. 

After all had eaten their fill, Tom said : 

^‘What’s the matter with taking a pailful of 
these along, they are so fine!” 

‘‘Good idea. Dick, take the game down to 
the boat and bring a pail or two, ’ ’ said Thad. 

Dick, nothing loath, picked up the birds and 
started for the bank. The other boys were talk- 
ing and pulling down more grapes, when they 
were startled by a yell that would have been the 
envy of a Comanche Indian. 

“Good heavens! What’s the matter with 
Dick!” cried Thad in alarm, darting out from 
under the grape-vine and looking anxiously to- 
ward the bank. There stood Dick on the bank 
forty yards away frantically waving his arms 
and yelling : 

“Come here quicker than chain lightning, 
boys.” 


178 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^ ‘ Something is up, ’ ^ said Tom, as they dashed 
for the bank at the top of their speed. 

‘'What is it, DickU' asked Thad, as they came 
running up. 

For an answer Dick pointed down the river. 

Two hundred yards below and near the foot 
of the island, the Greased Lightning and both 
skiffs were peacefully floating down the Missis- 
sippi twenty-five yards from shore, utterly 
oblivious to the fact that no pilot was aboard. 
The boys took in the situation at a glance. In 
their haste and eagerness to shoot quail, no one 
had thought to tie the boat ; and the action of the 
current had gradually loosened and carried it 
out in the river. Thad was prompt to make up 
his mind and act. ‘ ‘ Quick, boys, grab the guns 
and birds and come on. ’ ’ 

The sprint those four boys made down the 
glistening, sandy beach that beautiful October 
afternoon in pursuit of the truant Greased 
Lightning was something remarkable. Sheri- 
dan’s renowned twenty-mile canter to Winches- 
ter, and Paul Revere ’s historic midnight gallop, 
pales into insignificance compared with it; for 
they realized if the boat once drifted beyond the 
foot of the island out into the broad river, it was 
beyond their reach. 

Had the time been midsummer, both Thad 
and Tom would have hailed a mile swim with de- 
light, especially down stream, but at the present 
temperature of the water such a thing was not to 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 179 

be thought of. Dick’s short legs failed to keep 
up with the procession and when he arrived 
even with the truant houseboat, Tom was un- 
dressed ready for a swim in the chilly water. 

‘^Look out for cramps,” called Thad, as Tom 
waded out to his waist before throwing himself 
in the water for a swim. 

ain’t afraid,” Tom replied, making a 
plunge and striking out boldly for the boat. 

Anxiously and with beating hearts the boys 
watched their comrade breast the cold water af- 
ter his sharp run, and when he climbed aboard a 
cheer went up that shook the rocky bluffs. 

Quickly untieing the large skiff, Tom let the 
Greased Lightning float on and with a few 
strokes was back to his companions, where he 
was welcomed with the liveliest evidences of de- 
light. 

‘‘Get into your clothes quick, Tom, before you 
catch cold, ’ ’ said Thad, as they placed the guns 
and game in the skiff. 

“I ain’t cold,” replied Tom, his chattering 
teeth belying his words. 

“You’re not suffering much with heat in this 
air, just the same,” said Thad, taking the oars 
while Tom struggled to get his shirt over his 
dripping hide. 

Five minutes later they were on board, the 
skiff tied, and Tom dressed. 

“How do you feel. Tommy old girl, after 
your swim?” asked Thad, his eyes shining with 


i8o FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


joy and relief to think how easily they had got- 
ten out of a scrape that might hava proved very 
disagreeable if not disastrous. 

‘‘ Finer ’n a fiddle/’ and Tom executed a few 
steps of ‘‘Wilson’s Clog,” winding up with the 
remark : “ I feel as though I could lick anybody 
in four counties.” 

“Here is a gentleman on whom, although he 
isn’t in four counties, I should be pleased to 
have you work off your surplus energy and 
skill, ’ ’ said Dick, pushing Frank toward Tom. 

“Excuse me. Your man is too light; outside 
of my class entirely, I am happy to say,” and 
Tom bowed to the youthful promoter of pugil- 
ism with mock gravity. 

“I don’t doubt you are happy over it,” 
replied Dick with a grin. 

“Well, boys, now we are on board I don’t 
think we had better bother about those grapes, ’ ’ 
said Thad. 

“No, I’m tickled enough to get the boat again ; 
let the grapes go, ’ ’ replied Tom. 

‘ ‘ Boys, let this be a warning to us. Wlien we 
land after this, let each man resolve himself into 
a committee of one to see that the boat is secure- 
ly fastened. We don’t want any more such ex- 
periences if we can avoid it. Who is to blame 
for this scrape? Don’t all speak at once,” and 
Thad looked around sternly. 

Dick was the last man ashore and everybody 
looked at him accusingly. He took the hint and 
said with a comical sigh of resignation : 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. i8i 


^ ^ Being the last man oft the hoat, I suppose lit- 
tle Dicky Kingston will have to shoulder the re- 
sponsibility. He comes in handy as a scapegoat 
for the rest of you big lubbers.’’ 

We forgive you this time hut don’t let it oc- 
cur again. Please remember we are not children 
playing in the back yard with a washtub for a 
lake,” the Commodore remarked, as he set his 
gun in a convenient place. 

^Ht’s a wonder you wouldn’t do a little re- 
membering on your own hook, ’ ’ Dick retorted. 

Avast there. Don’t talk back to the Com- 
modore.” 

‘‘This is getting pretty confounded thin. I 
have to cook, wash the dishes, kill the ducks, and 
see to tying up the boat. After a bit, you fel- 
lows will want me to bring your meals to you in 
bed,” and Dick retired victorious to the cabin, 
followed by the cheers of the crew. 

“ I ’ll help you wash the dishes, Dick, then we 
will all pick the game out on deck, ’ ’ said Frank, 
following Dick into the cabin. 


CHAPTER IX. 


TOM MAKES A LUCKY SHOT. 

After Dick and Frank had washed the dishes, 
the boys all drew their chairs out on deck and 
proceeded to pick and clean the quail and 
grouse. Over running water is a very conve- 
nient place to clean game. The feathers are 
thrown to the four winds of heaven, and there 
are oceans of water to cleanse it with. Of course, 
if there happens to be a breeze in the wrong di- 
rection, one may get a mouthful of feathers oc- 
casionally, but that is part of the fun. 

The day being quiet, however, the boys were 
not bothered that way. The feathers were 
thrown broadcast on the bosom of the river, 
leaving a trail that resembled a huge fleet of tiny 
canoes floating and dancing idly down the cur- 
rent. As they worked they chattered away of 
their hits and misses and the recent mishap, 
while the Greased Lightning floated along down 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 183 


the quiet river, the boys occasionally suspending 
operations to take a turn at the sweeps in order 
to keep her in the current. 

It was one of those lovely, peaceful fall after- 
noons when the cool, pure air charged with the 
delicious odors of the forest and river makes the 
mere fact of living and breathing out in the 
woods a delight. Over the brown, seamed, rocky 
bluffs, capped with the gorgeous autumn foliage, 
the long-winged hawk wheeled lazily, sweeping 
anon in ever widening circles, evidently deeply 
interested in some business of its own. On 
some dead branch along the sandy shore, the 
crested kingfisher composedly sat, alert and 
watchful. Suddenly he drops to the water as 
though shot ; struggles a moment, springs in the 
air again, and with a guttural cry that rings far 
over the water, skims along the smooth river a 
hundred yards, then with a graceful upward 
curve alights on another dead branch and re- 
lapses into silence. 

Sometimes when drifting along gazing idly 
over the smooth water, the young voyagers would 
be astonished to behold a big fish perhaps two or 
three feet in length suddenly leap high in the 
air as tliough reconnoitering for some purpose, 
and a second later disappear from view like 
a ghostly yisitant from another world. To Thad, 
Dick, and Tom, brought up on the banks of the 
wide river, these sudden leaps excited only a 
passing interest, as they had seen them hun- 


i 84 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


dreds of times, but to Frank they were a never 
ending source of interest and curiosity. 

Why do the fish do thatU’ he inquired after 
a huge shovel-fish had exhibited itself a second 
or two and dropped back into its native element. 

^^Ask us something easy,’^ Thad replied. 
“Perhaps it is to get a mouthful of fresh air.'^ 

“Maybe it is a scout the rest of the fish send 
up to see if a seine is being drawn around 
them , ' ^ said Dick. 

“One thing IVe noticed, iUs nearly always 
big fish that jump,^’ remarked Tom. 

Maybe it^s a dare to show us they aren’t 
afraid, ’ ’ suggested Dick. 

“We’ve had great luck missing sandbars, so 
far,” observed Tom. 

“Yes, we can thank our lucky stars we have 
a good stage of water, ’ ’ Thad replied. 

“I’m not sorry ; I haven ’t lost any sandbars, ’ ’ 
said Dick. 

^ ‘ Don ’t crow too soon. Y on may find some yet. 
The water may drop two feet before we get 
home,” remarked Tom. 

“That’s so,” said Thad. “It all depends on 
the rains north of us. ’ ’ 

All the rest of the day the boys fioated with 
the current. There being no head winds they 
made good time. It was getting toward the end 
of the rafting season and some of the boats were 
laid up for the winter, but every few hours a 
steamboat passed them, pushing a huge raft 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 185 


of logs or sawed lumber down to the mills and 
lumber yards below. 

Sometimes these rafts caught them unawares 
by appearing suddenly around a bend in a nar- 
row channel, when the boys were loafing on the 
south side of the boat shooting turtles or some 
other equally interesting game. A sharp warn- 
ing whistle from the steamboat, and' the boys did 
some hard work, hustling lively at the sweeps 
for a few minutes, sliding the Greased Lightning 
across the channel out of the way, for the heavy 
rafts pushed by the powerful stern-wheel boat 
made much better time than the light houseboat. 
In a few moments the steamboat would glide 
slowly by, puffing like a heavily loaded team up 
a long hill. Then the boys would slide back 
into the channel again to catch the full force of 
the current. 

Again they would meet a raftboat that had 
been down and delivered its raft and was re- 
turning like an empty wagon for another load. 
These came clipping along at a lively gait. Some 
of them were particularly noted for speed and 
turned a nasty wheel,’’ the swells of which 
made the Greased Lightning dance about like a 
chip on a pond. At intervals during their trip, 
a long, gaudy packet of the Diamond Jo” line, 
glittering with white paint and loaded with 
freight and passengers, passed up or down. 

Sometimes they would be near enough a town 
to hear the long, deep, mellow whistle— two long 


i86 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


and two short— of the packet, warning the town 
of its approach and to get ready with their 
freight and passengers. Occasionally they 
passed a dirty-looking houseboat tied to the 
bank, guarded by half a dozen ragged urchins 
and a slovenly-looking woman. If the head of 
the family happened to be asleep instead of 
hunting or fishing, the guard detachment was 
augmented by a mangy mongrel cur or two. The 
proprietor of this menagerie was generally some 
biped who hated work and loved the river and 
the freedom of the woods and waters. And who 
can blame him for his choice in giving up the 
thrall and bondage of hard, ceaseless toil for a 
pittance, when he could catch in one day enough 
catfish to feed his retainers a week, and have his 
valuable time to himself to hunt coons and bee- 
trees, and loaf in the shade and sleep? This 
kind of people is never without a coopful of 
children to cheer the lonely hours, and eat cat- 
fish on the side. Civilization and politics are 
unknown quantities, and towns are of little use 
except as a place to purchase a few groceries 
and a liberal supply of tobacco, whiskey, and 
quinine. 

Just before sunset, the blutfs dropped away 
from the river and the boys saw by the appear- 
ance of the deep woods that the chances were 
good for Iqkes, sloughs, and consequently hunt- 
ing, fishing, and trapping for a few days. 

Half a mile down the forest a small bay put in 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 187 

from the river, and the Greased Lightning was 
worked over along shore and run in. It proved 
a snug little harbor, as it ran around a wooded 
point which sheltered them alike from winds and 
the observation of craft passing up or down the 
river. A fine, sandy beach a few feet in width 
dropped away from the trees, and in this little 
pocket the Greased Lightning soon rested. 

Just as they landed a deep, guttural ^‘Whoo- 
whoo-who-o-ah^’ came out of the forest, and 
Dick cried out : 

^‘This is^Owl Bay.’ ” 

All right, that’s a good name ; hut just hurry 
up supper, I ’m hungry, ’ ’ replied Tom, as he 
sprang ashore with a line. 

^‘Hear that fellow, will you? and then claim 
I am the only man that eats anything,” and 
Dick disappeared in the cabin while the other 
boys made the boat doubly secure, after their 
recent mishap. 

The deep, quiet peace of a perfect fall eve- 
ning, far from the haunts of man, was over the 
world as the quartet of hungry young hunters 
sat down to a substantial supper of fried quail, 
fried fish, mealy baked potatoes, bread and but- 
ter, delicious cotfee, doughnuts, cake, and cheese. 

The crimson trail following the sun was slow- 
ly growing fainter and a solemn hush brooded 
over river and forest. For a few moments the 
silence was dense enough to cut with a knife, 
then the deep, far-reaching voice of an owl 


i88 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


broke out, addressing the convention on some 
subject of importance in owl politics. It was 
followed instantly by another from a distant 
part of the wood and that one by still another. 
The first speaker then moved the previous ques- 
tion, and in ten seconds half a dozen were talk- 
ing at once in a frantic endeavor to get the at- 
tention of the presiding officer. 

‘ ^ Who-who-who-o-ah. IVh.o-who-a-ah. ’ ^ An- 
other one responded: ^ AVah-wah-who-ah.’^ 
Another deep-voiced member that the boys im- 
agined to have a long gray beard and a wise, 
venerable appearance, responded gravely : 
^‘Who-ah,’^ in a tone evidently intended to con- 
vey a great deal of wisdom. 

Those blamed critters make more racket 
than a lot of women at a rag bee,’^ remarked 
Dick, sticking his fork in another big, mealy 
Pomme de terre. 

Maybe it is a national convention to nomi- 
nate a president, ’ ’ suggested Frank. 

As the meal progressed, the racket out in the 
woods increased until Dick arose and stepping 
to the door sang out : 

Say, if you folks donT make less racket we ^11 
call the police.’’ 

‘‘That will fix ’em, I guess,” said Thad, as 
Dick resumed his seat to finish his supper. 

Apparently it did; silence instantly reigned 
in the woods. Only for a few moments, how- 
ever, and then a single inquiring “ Who-ah” was 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 189 


heard far off and in a few minntes the conven- 
tion was at it again hammer and tongs. 

When the noise was at its height, there came 
through the forest a long-drawn, unearthly 
scream that rose to a shriek. Hushed was the 
voice of every owl, and the four boys dropped 
their forks and stared hard at each other with 
paling faces. 

Tom was first to speak. He said in a low, 
awestruck voice : 

^ ‘ Boys, that ’s a panther sure, and no mistake. 
I never heard one before, but old man Larsen 
has described their cry to me lots of times, and 
that’s it to a dot. Ugh ! it makes a fellow shiver, 
doesn’t it?” As he spoke, that blood-chilling 
scream came ringing through the woods again. 

Thad arose to his feet quietly, remarking: 
don’t suppose there is any danger of the 
animal attacking four of us, but just the same it 
won’t cost anything to have a gun or two 
ready. ’ ’ 

^ ^ Get the 45, ’ ’ said Tom. 

‘^Not for me. If I have to face a beast like 
that at close range, I would sooner depend on 
my old double-barreled shotgun than all the 
rifles in the country,” Thad replied. 

^‘Why?” Frank asked. 

‘‘Because, as an old hunter explained to me 
once, a rifle ball will just make a small hole 
through the animal, and while it may kill him in 
the end, he may have strength enough left to 


190 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


throw himself on you and kill you first, while a 
shotgun at a few feet will tear the whole head 
otf of him, or blow a hole in his body that will 
knock the fight out of him at once. ’ ’ 

‘‘That sounds sensible, but I’ll get the rifle, 
too,” said Tom. 

“Boys, look at Bruno!” 

It was Frank who spoke. The dog had evi- 
dently heard the terrible cry, for every hair on 
his back stood erect like quills, while his usually 
kindly brown eyes shone with a greenish, phos- 
phorescent glare not pleasant to look upon. He 
lay in his accustomed place, but made no effort 
to arise and get outdoors. 

“That is the first time I ever saw Bruno act 
afraid of anything; it’s something big and 
ugly, ’ ’ said Dick. 

“It’s a panther all right; I’d bet my boots on 
it,” said Tom confidently. 

“It is probably out hunting its supper and 
yells to let everything know it is around and 
boss of the roost. If a lion should come along 
and let out a roar to show he was boss, Mr. 
Panther would climb a tree and crawl in a hole. 
There is nothing like knowing he is head guy to 
give a fellow confidence in himself,” remarked 
Thad, who had slipped a couple of shells in his 
gun and set it where it was convenient. 

“This is a pleasant introduction to our new 
camping place,” said Dick. 

“Yes. Can’t say that I like it either/’ Tom 
replied, 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 191 


we don’t have to stay here unless we 
want to,” Frank observed. 

‘‘No, that’s so,” Thad replied, “hut we are 
not going to be scared out by the yell of a 
panther, before we have fairly landed. We will 
look around to-morrow and see what things look 
like, anyhow; panthers are not likely to attack 
people in the day time. ’ ’ 

“I notice the gentleman broke up that owl 
convention pretty effectually; haven’t heard a 
peep out of them since he began to sing,” Dick 
remarked with a grin. 

Silence reigned in the forest while the boys 
cleared away the remains of their feast and 
washed the dishes, talking in low, subdued tones. 
When Dick opened the door to throw out the 
dish water, he did not remain outside any longer 
than was necessary, but in that brief instant 
Bruno’s growl became more ominous and the 
bristles stood straighter on his back. 

• “Boys,” said Tom, “that critter ain’t far off. 
It may be making a sneak on us for all we 
know. ’ ’ 

“Possibly the smell of the food draws him 
around,” suggested Frank. 

“Tom,” said Thad, “I’ll challenge you to 
take our guns outside, shut the door, and watch 
for the varmint, maybe we can see his eyes ; are 
you afraid to?” 

“Not much, ’ ’ returned Tom boldly. ‘ ‘ In the 
language of the boatman at Loch Gile: ‘I’ll go. 


192 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

my chief; I’m ready.’ If four men and a cart- 
load of guns, to say nothing of a dog, can ’t whip 
a panther, we better go home and crawl under 
the bed.” 

‘^You may be a little more ready to get back 
in the cabin,” said Dick. 

‘‘You take your shotgun and I’ll take the rifle, 
and turn down the light in the cabin, boys, ’ ’ said 
Tom without heeding Dick’s interruption. 

“All right, come on,” and the two boys 
stepped quickly out in the darkness and closed 
the door. 

Everything was quiet out in the black, forbid- 
ding forest except the soft rustling of the leaves 
in the faint night breeze, and the occasional 
chirp of an insect. Thad and Tom stood for 
live minutes like statues, straining their eyes 
and ears without hearing any unusual sound. 

Then Tom quietly clutched Thad’s arm. 

“Sh! Do you see those two little greenish, 
fiery spots up in that tree across the bay? That 
is some animal’s eyes; I can see them blink.” 

“I see them,” whispered Thad. “Shall we 
shoot ? ’ ’ 

“ Yes, let me try it with the rifle. You stand 
a better show of hitting it with the shotgun, but 
it’s about forty yards and a shotgun at that 
range wouldn’t hurt anything with small shot. 
It’s a hundred to one chance, but if I hit any- 
thing it will count.” 

“^1 right. I’ll stand ready with the shot- 
gun. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 193 


Tom slowly raised the rifle to his face, and by 
the dim light of the stars pointed it as nearly as 
possible toward the two phosphorescent, glaring 
points of fire. When he felt his aim was fairly 
correct, he pressed the trigger ; the report of the 
big rifle roared out in the stillness of the night 
like a twelve pounder. 

Instantly this was followed by a wild scream 
that sent Thad’s and Tom^s hair on a journey 
to the moon, as far as the roots would allow. 
There was a crashing and breaking of branches 
and a heavy body struck the ground across the 
little bay, and then Thad and Tom discreetly 
stepped inside and shut the door with amazing 
celerity. 

Frank and Dick sitting in the semi-darkness 
heard the report and that horrible scream. 

‘‘For Lord^s sake, Tom, it was after us; did 
you hit itF’ cried Dick, in whose round, ruddy 
face the blood was slowly coming back. 

“I hit something, from the racket over in the 
woods, ’ ’ replied Tom grimly, peering out of the 
window across the bay. 

‘ ‘ That was the luckiest scratch shot ever made 
on the face of the globe. You must have hit 
that critter or he wouldnT ha^^e dropped otf the 
limb,^^ said Thad, sitting down but with the 
gun still held ready for business. 

“No, I couldn’t do it again in a hundred years 
steady shooting,” Tom replied. “Maybe we can 
find out from the blood in the morning how 
hard I hit him.” 


194 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Then yon won’t investigate any more to- 
night?” Dick said, the shivers going out of his 
spine now that the lights were up and the boys 
in the cabin, and his old propensity to jolly 
coming back. 

“No, thank yon, we’ll wait till daylight.” 

And they did. When they retired, everybody 
loaded his gun and placed it convenient, but it 
was hours before anybody went to sleep. 


CHAPTER X. 


THE TRAGEDY IN THE FOREST. 

The hour was so late ere the boys fell asleep 
that it was long after sunrise when they awoke. 

As the events of the previous evening flashed 
upon them, there was a lively scrambling to 
dress and ascertain the results of Tom^s shot in 
the darkness. 

‘‘Did we shoot a panther last night or did 1 
dream we did?^’ asked Dick with a capacious 
yawn, as he began to dress. 

“TEc shoot a panther,’^ echoed Tom, with 
marked emphasis on the “we,’’ as he hurried 
into his clothes; “no, my son, it was a dream so 
far as you are concerned.” 

“Dick reminds me of a story papa used to 
tell about a boy,” remarked Thad. “A North- 
ern family moved to Missouri where the pos- 
sums were numerous, and one day the men folks 
went away, leaving the mother with half a dozen 
small children to run things. During the day a 


196 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


possum was discovered trying to abduct a 
chicken, and a club being thrown at it, the ani- 
mal immediately rolled up in a ball and appar- 
ently died right there. The woman had heard 
of ‘ ‘ playing possum, ’ ^ and by dint of hard coax- 
ing the eldest boy was nerved up to taking the 
ax and chopping the astonished animaPs head 
off. At the opening of hostilities, the boy I 
speak of, promptly ran into the house and 
crawled under the bed. When the men folks 
returned that evening, the children ran to tell of 
the exploit and the boy who had crawled under 
the bed headed the procession, yelling at the 
top of his voice : 

‘^Father, father, we killed a possum!’^ 

‘ ‘ That ^s Dick to a dot, ’ ’ grinned Tom. 

^Hs that so,’’ and Dick’s nasal promontory 
went up in the air ; ‘ ‘ you ease up or I ’ll let you 
get your own breakfast.” 

‘‘All right. I’ll be good,” and Tom went out 
to wash the sleep from his eyes. 

“Tom, while Dick is getting breakfast, let’s 
you and me take the guns and walk around to 
where we heard that thump last night; maybe 
we can track the animal by the blood. ’ ’ 

“Just what I was going to propose,” said 
Tom, pickng up the rifle. “Want to go along, 
Bruno?” 

Thad stopped and gave the dog a pat as he 
opened the door. The green glare had gone out 
of Bruno ’s eyes but the hair on his back did not 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 197 

lie naturally, as he arose and followed Thad 
and Tom. A short walk took them around the 
bay or pocket, and with guns ready they care- 
fully approached the spot where Tom had fired 
at the gleaming eyes. 

The boys were within fifteen feet of the tree 
when Thad stopped and pointed ahead. 

‘‘Tom, 1^11 be jiggered if you didnT kill him; 
look there. 

Sure enough, on the ground stretched out stiff 
and cold, lay the long, tawny form of a panther. 
Bruno at their heels growled and his bristles 
arose. He walked around the great beast, 
growling under his breath, sniffed gingerly at 
the body, then walked away, his eyes glowing 
with fear and hate. The bullet from the big 45 
had entered the left eye and passed through the 
head, coming out at the shoulder. 

Thad seized the panther by the leg and 
dragged it along the bank to where there was a 
break in the bushes and in full view of the 
Greased Lightning. Then he shouted. Dick and 
Frank came to the door and when they saw what 
the boys had on the opposite bank, Dick ejacu- 
lated in amazement: 

“Well, 141 be teetotally gosh blamed if that 
lucky fool of a Tom didn’t actually kill a panther 
in the dark.” 

‘ ‘ Frank, bring over a skiff, ’ ’ Thad called. 

In two minutes Frank was across the little 
bay, the panther was dumped in the skiff and 


198 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

shortly after laid out on the deck of the Greased 
Lightning, where the four boys gathered around 
and gazed in open-mouthed wonder at the huge 
cat’s muscular proportions. 

‘ ‘ Dick, ’ ’ said Thad sternly, ^ ‘ after seeing the 
result of Tom’s shot, if you ever hint about that 
woodcock shot again I ’ll disown you. ’ ’ 

Dick held up his left hand and said meekly : 

“If I ever do, may my left hand forget its 
cunning in cooking rice. ’ ’ 

Tom gave him a gentle poke in the ribs. “Eh, 
Dick, is that you ? ’ ’ 

Dick gave him a queer look that gradually 
merged into a good-natured grin, and disap- 
peared in the cabin. 

After a breakfast of quail on toast, soft boiled 
eggs, and coffee, the boys set to work and 
skinned the panther, stretching its hide on the 
side of the Greased Lightning. Then they held 
a consultation. Frank had a pet corn on his toe 
and desired very much to macerate it in hot 
water and amputate the little pest. So it was 
decided that Thad and Dick should take their 
guns and investigate the chances for trapping 
near by, while Tom and Frank remained at the 
houseboat. 

“I’ll just take the 45 this trip,” Thad re- 
marked. 

“Keep your eye peeled for this gentleman’s 
mate,” said Tom with a nod toward the fresh 
pelt, as Thad and Dick picked up their guns 
ready to start. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 199 

^^Sure we will. I donT want a critter like 
that chewing the back of my neck,’’ replied 
Dick. 

don’t know but we had better put a sand- 
wich or two in our pockets. I don’t expect to 
be gone long, but we can’t tell what might hap- 
pen,” said Thad. 

‘^Hokey pokey, yes, I forgot a lunch,” and 
Dick set down his gun and proceeded to wrap up 
a lunch that Tom declared was enough for a 
dozen farmers, but which the former insisted 
was barely sufficient to ward olf starvation for 
a few hours. 

‘‘Where shall we strike for!” Dick asked, as 
they started out through the forest. 

“That depends upon the lakes, sloughs, and 
creeks we run into. We may find some we can’t 
wade before we go a quarter of a mile. ’ ’ 

A short walk brought them to a small lake 
nestling in the woods, the surface of which was 
well sprinkled with mallards and teal, that arose 
with noisy quacks and a great fluttering of 
wings at the appearance of the boys on the bank. 
Numerous muskrat runs perforated the banks, 
and the tracks of various animals were visible in 
the soft mud. On walking around the lake, 
Thad and Dick discovered human footprints 
also. 

‘ ‘ Somebody has been trapping here ahead of 
us, ’ ’ said Thad, pointing to the tracks. 

They encountered several small lakes and 


200 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


creeks, but waded or walked around them. 
Along the shores of most of these little sheets 
of water were the same footprints observed at 
the first lake. 

‘‘Some trapper has been here and skimmed 
off the cream, ’ ^ remarked Thad. 

“Yes,’’ Dick replied, “it looks as though we 
might as well pull up stakes and go on. ’ ’ 

Many of the trees were very large, showing 
that the timber had not been cut for years, if 
ever. After tramping about for a couple of 
hours, Dick’s short legs grew weary and they 
sat down to rest upon a mossy log that lay on a 
little ridge. 

“Jocks, but that’s hard work,” Dick re- 
marked with a sigh of relief, as he deposited his 
weary frame upon the log with the graceful, 
heartfelt abandon with which a mud-hen alights 
in a pond. “The next time,” he continued, 
‘ ‘ that I read about some hunter or scout start- 
ing off on a lope through the woods and keeping 
it up for hours without rest, food, or drink. I’ll 
know that author is a big liar. ’ ’ 

“Either that or they had different kinds of 
legs from ordinary people. I’m tired as a 
dog,” replied Thad. 

After resting a few moments the boys felt 
better, and began to peer about and take in their 
surroundings. The log upon which they sat was 
partially concealed by trees and brush, with here 
and there an open glade that gave them a view 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 201 


out in the forest beyond. Dick took a mental 
inventory of everything out in front, and then 
wheeled around on the log to take in the rear 
view. In a moment Thad heard him utter an 
ejaculation of surprise. 

‘ ‘ What do you see 

Dick pointed out in the forest. ‘^There’s our 
trapper.’’ 

Thad looked in the direction indicated and 
saw a man sitting beneath a tree, busily engaged 
in some occupation. His back was toward the 
boys but even at that distance, sixty yards, they 
could see that his hair was white with age. 

‘‘He is an old timer from the looks of him,” 
remarked Thad. “Let’s g ) over and scrape an 
acquaintance. ’ ’ 

“All right,” assented Dick, always ready for 
anything. 

They had not taken three steps, when Dick 
clutched Thad’s arm in no gentle grip, and whis- 
pered shrilly: 

“For heaven’s sake, Thad, what’s that just 
this side of him ? ’ ’ 

A glance told Thad what it was. 

“It’s a panther, sure as the world, and it’s 
after that man,” he cried, unconsciously grip- 
ping the big rifle tighter, and raising it to his 
shoulder. 

Creeping along with the noiseless movement 
of its kind, its eyes fixed intently upon its victim, 
the huge cat approached its prey. The long 


202 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 

tail waved gracefully to and fro as the beast 
went forward noiselessly as a falling leaf. 

‘‘DonT shoot; you may kill the man/’ whis- 
pered Dick excitedly. 

As the panther was in a direct line with the 
stranger, Thad at once saw the wisdom of Dick ’s 
advice, and lowered the gun. 

^AVeVe got to do something mighty sudden, 
or the panther will kill him,” he cried, hardly 
less excited than Dick. 

‘ ‘ Maybe we can scare it by yelling, ’ ’ suggest- 
ed Dick. 

Before the advice could be acted upon, the 
beast took two or three quick steps and crouched 
low to the ground ; its tail gave two or three sud- 
den jerks in a second’s time, and the big cat 
shot up in the air as though from a gun. 

With a sickening sense of horror, Dick saw 
the tawny form of the panther come down upon 
the back of its victim, and he could almost hear 
the terrible teeth crunch into the flesh. 

‘‘Come on quick, or we will be too late,” cried 
Thad, starting swiftly toward the scene of con- 
flict. 

Dick saw the gleam of a knife in the man’s 
hand, as he stabbed blindly at the panther ; then 
both were rolling and squirming on the ground 
in deadly conflict. He waited to see no more 
but dashed after Thad. 

The latter ran up to within twenty yards of 
the combatants, and then paused a moment to 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 203 

steady his nerves after the sharp run before at- 
tempting to send a bullet into the animal ^s body. 
It was no easy task, for man and beast were 
struggling and shifting about so there was great 
danger of hitting the former. 

Thad quickly saw there was no use in trying 
to get a shot at the beasUs head, for it kept close 
to the man’s throat, which was covered with 
blood, serving to increase the panther’s fury. 
Taking advantage of an instant when the ani« 
mal’s hips were high above its victim, Thad 
raised the rifle, and quick as a flash sent a 45 ball 
through the hindlegs. 

It was only a snap shot, and could not hope to 
be fatal, but it served the purpose for which it 
was intended by the quick-witted boy. The beast 
felt the pain as the big bullet tore through its 
body, and with a snarl of rage, snapped at the 
wound. 

That was what Thad wanted. With light- 
ning-like swiftness, he threw in another shell 
and sent a ball crashing through the great round 
head. There was a convulsive quiver as the 
lead did its paralyzing work, then the panther 
rolled over on the ground and began to kick and 
»elaw the crimson leaves in the agonies of death. 

Thad sent another ball through the animal’s 
spine to make sure work, and then both boys ran 
up to see how badly the man was injured. He 
presented a terrible sight. Blood streamed 
from a dozen wounds where the cruel teeth and 


204 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


claws had torn the flesh, and the white hair and 
clothing of the stranger were soaked with the 
crimson life current. It was more blood than 
Dick had ever seen before, and the sight half 
nauseated him. 

^‘Are you badly hurtT’ Thad inquired sym- 
pathetically, as he knelt beside the prostrate 
form. 

A pair of deep-set, black eyes flashed a hunted 
look at Thad, but the open, manly countenance 
of the boy evidently reassured him, for the look 
softened and the stranger said faintly : 

^M^m done for. I was going with consump- 
tion, anyhow, and this beast has just helped it 
along, thank God.” 

Thad was shocked to hear these reckless 
words, but hastened to say : 

‘ ^ Cheer up. Perhaps it is not so bad. I will 
bind up your wounds and stop the loss of blood, 
and then we will carry you to the cabin,” and 
he hurriedly began to tear his handkerchief into 
strips. 

“IPs no use, boys. I feel that I have not long 
for this world and I would sooner die here under 
the old forest trees. You may bind up my 
wounds, for it will keep the strength in me a 
little longer, and I want to tell you a story. I 
must talk to somebody before I die. Tear the 
lining from my coat if you* want more bandages. 
This isn’t the first panther IVe fought, but I 
was a younger man than I am now. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 205 

As he bound up the old man’s wounds, Thad 
could not help noticing how thin and wan he 
looked, while the loss of blood gave his face a 
corpse-like pallor that made Dick shiver. But 
what fascinated Thad most was the almost un- 
natural brightness of the dark, deep-set eyes 
that followed his every move. 

After the boy had finished his self-imposed 
task the best he could, the man asked in a low, 
even tone that showed he was saving his 
strength, ‘^Who are you and where do you 
liver’ 

In a few words Thad told him their name, 
where they lived, and why they were there. The 
man looked interested, and said: ^‘You live 
near the place. Listen, boys. I was in the last 
stages of consumption before that beast tackled 
me. I am so weak now that I feel another hem- 
orrhage will end it all. Ah, to be a happy boy 
again, freed from this load of sin.” His eyes 
closed a moment and the white lips murmured 
faintly ; ^ ‘ 0 Father, is there any room in 

heaven for a poor, lost sheep?” 

He rambled on to himself, and the boys could 
hear the disjointed words of the Lord’s prayer. 
Then the sunken eyes opened, and he said: 

^‘Listen, hoys : Years ago, in the state of Ken- 
tucky, I had a loving wife and a fine, manly boy 
almost the size of that little fellow,” pointing to 
Dick; ^‘but the boy died and my wife soon fol- 
lowed.” He choked back a sob, then added. 


2o6 four boys on the MISSISSIPPI. 


‘ ‘ Then I took to drink and went to the devil. I 
joined a band of outlaws and horse thieves in the 
Northwest, and for years my hand was against 
every honest man. We stole horses, money, 
niggers, jewelry, anything we could turn into 
money, and when necessary or under the influ- 
ence of liquor, we killed as well as robbed. How 
large the band was I never knew, as it was scat- 
tered all over the Northwest. I finally drifted 
in with part of the band at Bellevue, Iowa, and 
for years we did as we pleased, robbing and kill- 
ing around over the country. 

‘ ^ Seven of us formed a private band inside of 
the main gang, and when we secured money or 
jewelry to any amount, hid it in a cave that was 
unknown to the rest of the outlaws. The cave 
had an opening out on the river, and ran back 
through the bluff with a rear entrance in a deep, 
heavily-wooded ravine. Two of our partners 
were expert masons and they made a cement or 
plaster as near the color of the outside rock as 
possible and walled up the front entrance, then 
we used the rear entrance and felt secure. Many 
a drunken carousal we held in that cave in the 
Mississippi bluffs after a rich haul. ’ ’ 

Thad glanced at Dick. The look was un- 
noticed by the man, who continued : 

‘^The captain of our seven was a young fel- 
low who went by the name of ^Captain Jones,’ 
but he told me once when we were alone and he 
had been drinking heavily that his name was 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 207 

Louis Armyn.’'— Again Thad looked at Dick.— 

‘ ‘ Whether that was his real name or not, I never 
knew. He told me he had been sentenced to a 
ten-year term for safe-robbing in the East, but 
had escaped after serving a few months. He 
was a nervy, handsome fellow and went in the 
best society in many cities and towns around 
over the country, where he passed for a man of 
wealth and leisure, but he never lost an oppor- 
tunity to rob a bank or steal diamonds. He was 
a diamond expert and could tell the difference 
between the genuine and a paste imitation at a 
glance. He was a crank on that one gem and 
had stolen thousands of dollars worth. He kept 
them in the cave, but I was the only one in the 
band who knew of their existence. The captain 
trusted me implicitly, and when we were alone 
in the cave would get out the jewels and admire 
and gloat over them. He seemed to love them 
as a miser does gold. 

<< There was a large room in the front of the 
cave that opened out of the entrance we had 
sealed up, and a passageway led through the 
blutfs to another larger room near the rear en- 
trance. In this latter room we fixed up a stone 
table, and there we did our drinking and carous- 
ing. One day we were carousing and drinking 
as usual, when the captain became angered at 
one of the men and attempted to shoot him, but 
the man was too quick for him and shot the cap- 
tain dead before he could draw his revolver. 


2o8 four boys on the MISSISSIPPI. 


carried the body to the front room in- 
tending to bury it there, and then went back 
after another drink. Then some of the men 
proposed we divide the gold and separate, now 
that the captain was dead. An altercation en- 
sued over the division of the money, which 
ended in a fight with revolvers and knives, and 
when it was over I was the only man left alive. ’ ^ 
Dick gave Thad another meaning look and the 
latter nodded. 

The old man paused and closed his eyes. He 
was plainly growing weaker and nothing but 
sheer will power kept him from a collapse. After 
a moment his eyes opened again and he con- 
tinued : 

‘ ‘ I had no wish to stay there any longer, so I 
quickly made up my mind to load the gold and 
diamonds in a skitf and float down the river to 
some town where I was not known, take a steam- 
boat there for New Orleans, and then ship for 
England, there to pass the remainder of my 
days. 

‘ ^ But first, I could not resist the temptation to 
visit Bellevue and see some of the boys in the 
gang. So after keeping out a couple of hun- 
dred dollars, I buried the box of gold near the 
captain’s body. The diamonds I left buried 
under the edge of the wall in the south part of 
the room, where the captain kept them, so if 
somebody discovered one they might not the 
other. Then I went back to the other cavern for 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 209 

some purpose ; aud being filled with liquor, for- 
got to go back and bury the captain’s body. It 
is doubtless there to this day as I have never 
been to the cave since. 

‘‘Making my way to Bellevue, I was soon 
drinking and rioting with the others of the band 
who made that their headquarters. I was in no 
haste to return for my hidden wealth, for the 
wild, reckless life we led held a sort of fascina- 
tion for me. So I stayed and stayed and it 
proved the worse for me, for the following 
spring, it was eighteen forty, the citizens became 
so indignant and desperate at our lawless acts 
that they resolved to drive us out at any cost. 

“We barricaded ourselves in a hotel and a 
bloody fight followed, in which only six of us 
escaped. Three were killed outright and thir- 
teen captured. I was among the latter and fully 
expected to be hanged, but the people instead 
gave us from four to thirty lashes on our bare 
backs and sent us adrift down the river in skiffs, 
with instructions never to return on penalty of 
hanging.* 

“I was too sick and sore to get the money 
then, and made my way to St. Louis. Somehow, 
something always occurred to prevent my re- 
turning for the hidden wealth, and so time went 
on until the gold excitement broke out in Cali- 
fornia in forty-nine. Most of the band went out 
there to gamble and rob, for it was a fruitful 
field, and they persuaded me to acompany 
*See history of the Bellevue war, Jackson Co., Iowa. 


210 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


them. That was twenty-nine years ago, and 
since then I have drifted all over the West. 
Most of my companions have been shot or 
hanged, and I have more than once escaped the 
wrath of the vigilance committee by a hair. 

‘ ‘ This summer I was in St. Paul, and being 
without money or friends, resolved to work my 
way down the river to the cave, get the money, 
and spend my few remaining days in peace and 
plenty. The ravages of consumption had al- 
ready set in, but I hoped the outdoor life would 
benefit my health. I have trapped a little on the 
way, selling the furs at the next town to get 
something to eat, but here I caught cold and 
have grown rapidly worse, and now this panther 
has finished me. Ah, boys, let nothing ever 
tempt you to travel the path of vice. It is pleas- 
ant at first, but the end is woe— woe. 

The old man had exhausted his strength in 
talking and, before Thad could speak, went into 
a convulsion of coughing that ended in a violent 
hemorrhage. It was the first thing of the kind 
Dick had ever seen, and his eyes grew big with 
horror as the blood welled from the old man’s 
mouth and nostrils. 

The dying man motioned Thad to bend near- 
er. In a voice barely audible he whispered : 

^ ‘ I am dying. Here is a paper inside my shirt 
with a description of the bluff and location of 
the cave. Take it; the wealth is yours if you 
can find it. Bury me here. Avoid wickedness 
as you would a pestilence. Good-by. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 21 1 


He sank back white and rigid as he thrust a 
folded paper into Thad^s hand and his breath- 
ing apparently ceased. 

The boys remained motionless for several mo- 
ments, then Dick whispered in a voice full of 
awe: ‘ ‘ He is dead. ^ ’ 

As he spoke, there came from the bloody lips 
of the old man, in a low, sweet tone, the words : 
‘ AVe will sing one song for the old Kentucky 
home. 

For the old Kentucky home far away. ’ ’ 

As the last words died away, there was a 
slight rattle in the throat; a convulsive quiver; 
and the old outlaw had passed to the other 
shore. 

Tears filled Dick’s eyes as he stood rooted to 
the spot, gazing down upon the pallid, bloody 
features of the dead stranger. His thoughts 
were recalled by Thad, who heaved a sigh and 
said : 

^‘Well, it’s all over, Dick. We had bet- 
ter carry him into the cabin and fasten the door 
so nothing can disturb him, and then go back 
and get the boys to come and help bury him and 
skin the panther; we have nothing to do it 
with. ’ ’ 

Tenderly they lifted the body of the old man, 
outlaw though he had been, and bore it to the 
little cabin. A couple of old chairs, a pair of 
blankets, and a number of stretched and drying 
muskrat, coon, and mink skins showed that it 


212 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


had been the old man’s stopping place for a few 
days. After carefully depositing the body upon 
the floor and covering it with a blanket, they 
closed and fastened the door so that nothing 
would disturb the sacred dead in their short 
absence. 

^^What shall we do with this fur? Here are 
eight rats, two mink, and a coon, ’ ’ said Dick, as 
they walked back to the scene of the late con- 
flict. 

^‘Better leave everything, panther and all, 
just as it is, and go back after the boys, ’ ’ replied 
Thad. 

^‘And don’t forget to look out for more pan- 
thers. ’ ’ Dick was so nervously wrought up over 
seeing the second one, that he was constantly on 
the watch. Even while the old man was telling 
the story of his life, he had kept his eye out, half 
expecting to see another one crawling toward 
them. 

As they walked through the forest, Dick said 
in a subdued voice: ‘‘Thad, I believe we’ve 
found that seventh man; what do you think?” 

“It looks very much as if we had,” was the 
quiet reply. 

Presently Dick remarked again : 

“If— if we should happen to find the dia- 
monds, don’t you think we ought to divide with 
the other hoys ? ” 

“Of course. They are our partners on this 
trip. ’ ’ 

Dick heaved a sigh of relief and trudged on. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 213 


They were a pretty sober pair of boys. The old 
outlaw’s story of bis ill-spent, wicked life made 
a deep impression upon their boyish minds, so 
much so, in fact, that Thad had not even glanced 
at the paper, but thrust it in his pocket as though 
valueless. 

Dick anxiously eyed every tree and clump of 
underbrush that they passed, on the lookout for 
panthers. Every rod or two he cast a fearful 
glance behind, and continually admonished 
Thad to keep the big rifle ready, while the shot- 
gun on his own shoulder was carried at full cock. 
It is doubtful if Dick could have hit a barn at 
twenty yards in his present excited state, but as 
they neared the Mississippi and saw nothing 
more of the dreaded panthers, healthy, vigorous 
boyhood asserted itself and his nerves calmed 
down. 

‘‘Do you suppose that was the mate to the 
one Tom killed?” he inquired, for Dick could 
keep silent only about so long. 

“I think so. Probably a pair of them strayed 
in here from the North. I don’t suppose we 
will see any more. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I hope not. I haven ’t lost any more. Ugh ! 
I can see that critter making that bound now. I 
believe he could have gone over the top of a tree 
just as easy. I will probably see it in my 
dreams for a week,” and Dick shivered. 

“Well, it’s no use scaring ourselves to death 
thinking about it. Here is the Mississippi, and 
yonder is the Greased Lightning. ’ ’ 


214 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 


It was close to the noon hour, and Tom and 
Frank were jnst patting dinner on the table as 
Thad and Dick walked into the cabin. The lat- 
ter walked calmly np to the table and taking 
the untouched lunch from his pocket, unwrapped 
it impressively and laid it down without a word. 

^‘For the love of Peter Ann! Dick brought 
back his lunch, gasped Tom in amazement. 
‘‘Quick, Frank. Jump for the medicine case; 
paregoric, squills, turpentine, kerosene, any- 
thing ; Dick is sick. ’ ^ Then he noticed the 
strange, subdued look in the faces of both. 
‘ ‘ What has happened to you two fellows 1 Meet 
another panther and have to run for itP^ 

“Just what we did,’’ replied Dick grimly; 
‘ ‘ but let us have a bite to eat and we ’ll tell you 
about it. I am just beginning to get hungry. 
I haven’t had time before.” 

“It can’t be anything less than a murder or 
an earthquake, to take away your appetite,” 
muttered Tom, as the boys seated themselves at 
the table. 

After dinner, Thad gave Tom and Frank an 
account of their tramp and the tragedy they had 
witnessed. He modestly told of killing the 
panther, and repeated the outlaw’s story ex- 
cepting that part which related to the hidden 
wealth. That was reserved for a future sur- 
prise. He ended the story by saying : 

“And now, boys, we must lock up the shanty 
and go and bury him, and skin the panther. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 215 

wonder Dick lost his appetite/^ re- 
marked Tom in amazement, as the four shoul- 
dered their guns and a shovel and spade. 

^‘Keep your eye out for panthers,’’ admon- 
ished Frank, as they started through the woods. 

‘ Mf a panther has nerve enough to tackle this 
outfit, he is welcome to the job,” quoth Tom 
boldly. 

Everything was quiet around the cabin when 
the boys arrived. Excepting a gray squirrel 
that scolded and barked in a neighboring tree, 
and the birds flitting here and there through the 
forest, nothing was seen. The panther still lay 
where its struggles had ended, and the blood and 
brains which oozed from the big hole in the head 
made by Thad’s. bullet, had clotted and grown 
cold. Upon opening the door, the boys saw at a 
glance that nothing had occurred to disturb the 
fast stiffening form. 

A few yards from the cabin beneath a noble 
forest elm, the boys dug a grave in the sandy 
soil, and while Thad and Tom wrapped the body 
in a blanket and prepared it for burial, Frank 
and Dick gathered a great heap of crimson and 
yellow forest leaves and strewed them several 
inches deep over the bottom of the grave. 

Upon a bed of mosaics soft as down, beneath 
the whispering trees, where the wild birds sang 
and flitted through the long summer days above 
the lonely, unmarked grave, the dead outlaw was 
laid to rest— ‘‘unwept, unhonored, and un- 
sung,’^ 


2i6 four boys on the MISSISSIPPI. 


Neither letter nor paper was found on the body 
that would give a clew to his name or friends. 
Evidently he desired to die unknown, and his 
identity remains a mystery to this day. Upon 
his person was found a big Coitus navy revolver, 
unloaded, which probably explained the reason 
for his not using it in the fight with the panther. 
The boys insisted on Thad ^s taking it as a keep- 
sake to remind him of the fight, and he did so. 

The short October day was well spent when 
the boys arrived at the Greased Lightning, car- 
rying the skin of the panther and the other fur, 
and, needless to say, all were glad to get back. 
Tom remarked as he flung himself into a chair : 

^ ‘ I move we pass up this place and start down 
the river in the morning. This dead man and 
the panther somehow remind me of that grue- 
some old pirate song : 

^Fifteen men on the dead man^s chest— 

Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum. 

Drink and the devil had done for the rest— 
Yo, ho, ho, and a bottle of rum.’ 

What do the rest of you fellows think about itl” 

^ ^ I second the motion. Imagine a fellow try- 
ing to trap and having a panther drop down on 
the back of his neck every four rounds. I don’t 
call this a healthy locality, ’ ’ said Dick. 

And Thad and Frank agreed. 


CHAPTER XI. 


TOM MAKES ANOTHEE LUCKY SHOT. 

^‘Say, boys, it’s raining,” called Tom next 
morning, as be awoke and heard the gentle pat- 
ter on the roof. 

/‘Let her rain, we’re here first,” yawned 
Dick. 

“If the current in the river hasn’t quit busi- 
ness, we can float just the same. Come, cook, 
roll out and get breakfast,” said Thad. 

“Yes, that’s it. I’m nothing but a galley 
slave, ’ ’ grumbled Dick, crawling into his clothes. 

“What do we have for breakfast? I am get- 
ting worse than Dick, ’ ’ laughed Frank. 

“Channel cat a la Greased Lightning; fried 
duck a la Dick, fried potatoes a la skillet, coffee, 
bread and butter, and pie, ’ ’ replied the cook. 

“Pie! Who ever heard of pie for breakfast? 
What won’t that fellow think of,” said Tom in 
astonishment. 

“Say, Tom, you learned at school that this 
globe is whirling around in space at the rate of 


2i8 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


about a thousand miles an hour, didn’t you?” 
asked Hick 

believe so; why? What of it?” 

Well, now will you please explain to me what 
difference it makes to a fellow, at what particu- 
lar location in space he eats pie?” asked Dick. 

^^Get onto that logic will you, for an excuse 
to eat pie, ’ ’ grinned Thad. 

^ ^ He is a pie philosopher, ’ ’ Tom remarked. 

^‘Gee, boys. Here is a noble flock of ducks 
going down, just skipping the water,” called 
Frank from the window. 

‘ ‘ Bluebills, ” said Thad, looking over Frank’s 
shoulder. Wouldn’t I like a smash into that 
bunch, though. ’ ’ 

^^You can’t complain,” said Tom; ^^you are 
the only one in the gang who has had a half 
way decent duck shoot this fall.” 

‘Wes, that’s so,” replied Thad, “but that 
hunt would have been a great deal jollier if some 
of the gang had been along to talk it over with 
afterward. ’ ’ 

“There goes another beautiful bunch. Cad- 
wells this time, ’ ’ said Tom. 

“How the dickens can you fellows recognize 
every kind of duck at a glance, so far away?” 
Frank asked. 

‘ ‘ Can you recognize any of your schoolmates 
at a. distance?” said Thad. 

“Of course. Those I meet nearly every day 
I can tell almost as far as I can see them.” 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 219 

^^How do you do itU’ 

‘^Oh, by their walk and the way they swing 
their bodies, and general appearance,’^ Frank 
answered. 

^^That is just the way we tell ducks,” replied 
Thad. ‘‘Every species of duck has a flight 
peculiar to itself; the coloring of the feathers 
shows up differently on the wing, and as you 
say about boys, their general appearance 
differs. ’ ’ 

“How I love a quiet fall rain,” remarked 
Tom, looking contentedly out over the wide 
river. 

“So do I,” replied Thad, “and there is an- 
other thing I love, that is a wild, cloudy, raw 
day when the ducks and geese are everywhere, 
and don’t know whether they are afoot or horse 
back. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ Say, fellows, I have a proposition to submit 
to this menagerie,” said Dick, who was a wild- 
fowl crank of the first water, and who had been 
oscillating between the stove and the window 
overlooking the river ever since the boys had 
mentioned ducks. 

“Exhale it,” said Tom, “and we’ll go into 
executive session. ’ ’ 

“Hadn’t we better go into breakfast first 
asked Frank demurely. 

“Wise lad. You’ve got sense. I’m just 
aching to have a heart to heart talk with a couple 
of fried ducks,” responded Dick promptly. 


220 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^‘You will have a heart to heart talk with a 
stuffed club if you don T keep off my toes, ^ ’ re- 
monstrated Tom, getting out from under Dick^s 
pedal extremities. 

^‘Get out of the workingman’s way. If I 
must work and slave, I want room according to 
my strength,” replied the cook laconically. 

When the boys had partially satisfied their 
hunger, Dick’s proposition was called for. 

‘ ‘ It is this, ’ ’ said Dick, helping himself to an- 
other cup of cotfee. ‘^We haven’t had a duck 
hunt this season. Now I propose that the first 
good ground we strike where the ducks are 
plenty, every man lay off a day or two and shoot 
ducks till he is satisfied.” 

^‘What shall we do with them?” inquired 
Tom. 

was just coming to that. The first town 
we come to we will ship them to Chicago or St. 
Louis. That way, we all get a good shoot and 
the game isn’t wasted.” 

Everybody seconded the motion at once, and 
it went through with a shout of glee. The fact 
was, the boys had been aching, smouldering, for 
a duck shoot, and Dick’s scheme struck them 
right. 

The ceaseless patter of the autumnal rain was 
still murmuring through the heavy forest with 
a dull, low, sleepy roar, when the boys, envel- 
oped in rubber coats and boots, towed the 
Greased Lightning out in the current of the Mis- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 221 


sissippi and started once more toward home. 
The moisture of the rain formed a thin, soft, 
gray mist that hung along the forest and over 
the wide river like a filmy veil, through which 
the wildfowl darted ever and anon on their long 
southern journey. Occasionally the confused 
clamor of a flock of geese was heard as they bore 
steadily along down the river high overhead, 
unmindful of the drizzling rain. 

When the boat had fairly caught the current, 
the sweeps were fastened and then there was 
nothing to do hut keep an eye out for sandbars, 
towheads, steamboats, snags, and so forth. Oh, 
yes, everybody kept his eye out for ducks and a 
favorable-looking spot to hunt them. That was 
part of the programme now. 

They had floated along several hours and the 
boys were deep in a heated discussion over the 
merits of different guns, when suddenly there 
was a grinding, crunching sound, the speed of 
the Greased Lightning slackened, she heaved a 
sigh, and came to' rest. The meeting at once ad- 
journed sine mora, and everybody sprang out- 
side in the rain well knowing what the trouble 
was. 

^‘Here’s a go. High and dry on a bar, in two 
inches of water. A nice set of steamboatmen, 
you fellows, growled the Commodore, survey- 
ing the plump sandbar upon which the Greased 
Lightning was idly rocking and being forced 
higher upon the yellow sand every moment by 
the strong action of the current. 


222 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Whose fault was this; who was lookout!’’ 
he continued with lowering brow, turning to the 
crew. 

‘Hf I remember rightly, the lookout was try- 
ing to convince the rest of us that a Parker 
could give a Greener or Smith cards and 
spades,” replied Dick, winking at Tom. 

‘ ‘ The lookout gets thirty lashes and goes with- 
out his supper. Get a hump on you, everybody, 
and don your rubber togs ; every minute counts 
here. The current is stitf and is driving us 
harder on the sand every second. ’ ’ 

Enveloped in rubber coats and boots, the boys 
sprang on the bar in the shallow water and, 
placing their shoulders against the Greased 
Lightning, exerted all their strength to loosen 
her from the sand, but in vain. The unwieldy 
craft merely rocked and wobbled, and when they 
eased up, drifted a little higher on the bar. 

like this first-rate,” remarked Tom, 
straightening up to get the kinks out of his back. 

^‘Yes, this is juicy; especially in the rain. 
We’ll be in luck if we get home in time for our 
Christmas dinner,” replied Dick, as his eyes 
slowly went back into their sockets. 

‘ ‘ Can ’t we turn and put our backs to her and 
get a better pry!” asked Frank. 

^‘Of course we can. We could shove our- 
selves down in the sand until only our heads 
stuck out of the water and we looked like four 
pegs in a row, but there ’s no one here to pull us 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 223 


out of the sand, and we would have to stay there 
and be bumping posts for the Greased Lightning 
to pound against, ’ ’ replied Dick gravely. 

‘MUs no use, boys,^^ said the Commodore, 
‘^we canT budge her. We hi have to rig up a 
Spanish windlass. Get the poles and rope, 
Tom. 

would like first-rate to inquire what a 
Spanish windlass is, but after that break I made 
about the gaff I will keep my mouth shut,’^ 
laughed Frank. 

‘^Keep your eyes open and you will see in a 
minute,’’ said Thad. ^^Set the ginny-pole 
Tom, ’ ’ he called. 

In anticipation of just such a mishap, the boys 
had cut a number of stout poles and put them 
on board at their first camp, and they also car- 
ried plenty of rope. Dick fastened one end of 
the rope to a ring in the houseboat, while Tom 
set the ginny-pole and Thad stuck the upright in 
the sand close to the rope and adjusted the 
sweep by taking a half hitch around the rope 
next to the upright. 

‘‘Do you catch the idea now, Frank?” said 
Dick, as Thad took a twist around the upright. 

“Yes, and it’s a mighty powerful lever, too,” 
said Frank, as the boat slowly came otf the bar 
into deep water. 

“We’re afloat on the swift-rolling tide,” 
yelled the Commodore joyfully. 

‘ ‘ ‘ She lives, she moves, she seems to feel 
The thrill of life along her keel!’ ” 
cried Frank. 


224 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘If you fellows don’t let up quoting poetry, 
you will have her on a sandbar again, and 1 
wouldn’t blame her if she stayed there,” said 
Dick, as Tom cut the rope from the ginny-pole 
and they all climbed aboard and floated on. 

“How would you like sandbars as a steady 
diet, Dick?” inquired Tom, as they went in out 
of the rain and took off their rubbers. 

“Can’t say that I like them much, although I 
must confess I was badly stuck on this one, ’ ’ re- 
plied Dick, looking at Tom without the quiver 
of a muscle. 

“That wasn’t so bad either,” laughed Frank 
softly. 

“It’s bad enough for a dose of the cat if we 
weren’t short of help,” retorted the Commodore 
grimly. 

“Where did you fellows get onto that Span- 
ish windlass?” inquired Frank. 

“Oh, that is used every day by steamboat- 
men and raftsmen, where they need a powerful 
lever,” said the Commodore; “only when near 
enough the bank, they use a tree to snub around 
instead of a ginny-pole. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ This is the clearing up shower ; then I pre- 
dict fair weather,” remarked Dick, as they 
watched the rain pour down in sheets. 

“It can’t clear off any too soon to suit me,’^’ 
said Tom. 

“It is going to clear off quiet, and I am glad 
of it; I don’t want any cold, windy rain-storms 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 225 


until we are camped near some good shooting 
grounds,’’ said Tliad. 

Dick’s weather predictions proved accurate, 
for in a short time the rain ceased and a cool 
breeze sprang up from the northwest. A blue 
rift appeared here and there in the drifting 
clouds. Soon a narrow band of blue appeared 
along the western horizon which grew wider 
steadily, until in a short space of time the gray 
blanket of clouds rolled down upon the many- 
tinted leaves and the peaceful river. 

Shortly before sundown the Greased Light- 
ning was passing a high bluff on the eastern 
shore. The bluff was faced by a seamed, irreg- 
ular rocky wall that extended down almost to 
the water ’s edge. Thad was sweeping the river 
below with the glass, on the lookout for geese or 
sandbars. After satisfying his curiosity he 
turned and swept the rocky bluff to the east. 
Suddenly he exclaimed : 

^^Boys, I see something!” 

^ ‘ What is it ? ” the others chorused. 

‘^Some kind of an animal sunning itself on a 
little ledge of rocks. It looks like a wildcat. 
Take the glass, Tom. It is near the top, close 
to that fissure.” 

‘‘I see it with the naked eye. It just moved 
a little, ’ ’ cried Dick. 

Tom looked one brief instant and handed the 
glass back with suppressed excitement. 

‘‘It’s a wildcat all right,” with these words 
he disappeared in the cabin. 


226 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^ ^ You won ’t come within ten feet of him, ^ ^ said 
Dick, as Tom came out with the 45-70. 

‘ H ’II scare him anyhow. ’ ’ 

‘‘Raise the sights about four hundred yards 
and allow a little for the drift of the ball with 
the wind, ’ ’ said Thad quietly. 

Quickly following the report of the rifle, the 
eager watchers saw the animal make a short 
side jump to the north and look around sharply. 
Apparently it did not connect the innocent-look- 
ing craft floating along far below with the spat 
of the ball against the rocks. 

“Good shot, Tom. You lined him all right, 
but didn’t allow quite enough for the wind. Try 
him again,” said Thad. 

Tom threw in another shell and raised the 
rifle. At the second report the animal made a 
leap in the air, and an instant later the aston- 
ished hunters saw it whirling and tumbling 
down the rocky wall. 

“Well, wouldn ’t that kill you T ’ ’ gasped Dick 
in amazement at this display of fancy shooting. 

“It looks that way, at least it killed the wild- 
cat. Tom, I congratulate you on that shot,” 
said Thad in honest admiration. 

“So do I, Tom,” said Frank. “That one 
shot was worth the trouble and expense of bring- 
ing the rifle along. ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ I congratulate you, if you are dead positive 
it wasn’t a scratch,” said Dick doubtfully. 

Tom laughed. “Of course not. It was just 
plain skill and long headed figuring. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 227 


it was, you have that rifle down pretty 
pat and the geese want to look out.^’ 

Shall we go after himU’ asked Frank. 

^ ‘ Of course, ’ ’ replied Thad. ^ ^ Tom and I will 
jump into the skiff and run over after him. We 
will catch you before you go far.’’ 

Dick and Frank watched the boys land and 
walk up the sharp incline to the base of the 
rocks. Through the glass Dick saw Tom hold- 
ing the rifle ready for a shot if the beast should 
not be dead. Then he saw Thad walk ahead 
and pick up a dark, dirty gray animal by the 
hindleg and knew Tom’s bullet had done the 
business. 

Heave it aboard and let’s see where you 
hit,” said Dick, as Thad and Tom came along- 
side. 

Tom tossed the cat on deck. Dick examined 
it critically. The big bullet had passed through 
the body breaking the backbone. 

As Tom stepped on board, Dick held out his 
hand. Shake, Tom. Do you know I had a 
sneaking idea all the time that you just scared 
the cat so it lost its balance, and the fall killed 
it ; but I was off. You are champion of the 45- 
70. You get a wreath of mud-turtle claws soon 
as Frank and I kill turtles enough.” 

Tom’s face lighted up with a pleased smile, 
for he knew any praise from Dick was earned. 

‘‘Bruno doesn’t seem to like cats any better 
than panthers,” remarked Frank, as the dog 


228 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


came out and walked around the cat with his 
bristles up. 

‘‘No, he hasnT had any use for them since 
that wildcat jumped out of the cave at me,^’ re- 
plied Thad. 

A couple of miles farther down, the hoys tied 
up for the night on the east shore of a wooded 
island. A pleasant evening was spent, a double 
game of chess played, and the boys retired. 

The next morning Frank awoke and after rub- 
bing the sleep from his eyes, shook his bedfel- 
low. “Dick, roll out. You are cook yet.’’ 

After considerable effort he aroused Dick and 
the racket awoke Tom. But when the latter 
called Thad his place was found vacant. 

“Hello. Thad has eloped.” Just then the 
boom of a gun was heard. 

“Thad is out after quail, I know, while we 
fellows are snoozing. I want some of that pie 
myself,” and Tom was out of bed in a jiffy. 

“I’ll stay and help Dick get breakfast,” said 
Frank, as Tom went out the door. 

“Say, Frank,” said Dick after Tom had gone. 
“I’ll tell you what you might do. Take your 
rod and see if you can catch a mess of bass 
while I am getting breakfast. Only don’t be 
gone more than half or three quarters of an 
hour. ’ ’ 

“Thanks, awfully.” And Frank seized his 
split bamboo and was otf in a twinkling. 

Dick fried the meat, poached the eggs, and 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 229 

made the coffee, aggravated at frequent inter- 
vals by the report of Thad’s and Tom’s guns, 
but he was gradually learning the lesson of pa- 
tience, and to perform his share of work cheer- 
fully, so he complained not. 

When breakfast was about ready, he went out- 
side and exercised a vigorous pair of lungs with 
a call for breakfast that woke the echoes along 
the old Mississippi bluffs. Then he heard two 
reports, followed a moment later by an answer 
to his call; and soon after Thad and Tom ac- 
companied by Bruno appeared on the bank and 
stepped aboard. 

‘‘Fifteen quail before breakfast. Gee, that’s 
good,” cried Dick, counting the pile of plump 
brown beauties the boys threw down. 

“Where is Frank? Asleep yet I suppose,” 
said Thad. 

“Not much. Frank is out after ‘redeyes,’ 
and he ought to be back by this time. I told him 
not to stay long, ’ ’ replied Dick, as he went in to 
pour the coffee. 

“Boys, I hear somebody yelling up at the 
north end of the island,” said Tom, coming in 
the cabin. 

“I wonder if that critter has fallen in the 
river again,” said Dick, bending his ear to lis- 
ten. 

“ There it is again ; don’t you hear it? Frank’s 
voice, too,” said Tom. “It don’t sound as if 
he was in much trouble,” he continued. “I’ll 


230 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


run up and see what he wants. No need of all 
of us going, I guess, and Tom started up the 
shore. 

Thad and Dick waited patiently for ten min- 
utes, and then they heard a series of yells and 
shouts. 

‘‘What the nation can be the matter? I’ll 
run up and see, ’ ’ said Thad in great perplexity. 

Then Dick waited until his patience was about 
exhausted. Finally he was regaled with a whole 
chorus of yells. 

“Well, if that doesn’t beat the Dutch. Soon 
as a fellow gets up there he begins to yell. Come 
on, Bruno. You and I will go up and straighten 
things out for those fellows. Wait a minute 
and I ’ll take the 45 ; they may need it. ’ ’ 

Dick ran up the shore until near the head of 
the island, and then walked along, slowly peer- 
ing around in the woods. Suddenly he heard 
Tom’s voice, apparently up in the air, saying: 

“Well, if there isn’t that stub legged partner 
of ours and he has a gun, bless his ribs. He has 
more sense than the whole shooting match put 
together. ’ ’ 

“Where are you fellows and why don’t you 
come to breakfast?” Dick inquired, peering 
about. 

“We are just aching to come to breakfast, 
but at present we are roosting in trees for our 
health, ’ ’ Thad called down from the leafy recess 
of a big hickory. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 231 


^ Where yon will be in a minute, ’ ^ Tom called 
from another tree, ‘Hf you don’t have one of 
those heart to heart talks of yours with an old 
boar with tushes a foot long. ’ ’ 

^WVell, I’ll be dished! Where is this fero- 
cious beast?” said Dick with a grin. 

‘^He is right under my tree, looking up very 
atfectionately at me. Go easy and plug him be- 
fore he gets a glimpse of you or you will be up 
a tree also. Don’t let Bruno fight the old brute; 
his tushes will tear him to pieces, ’ ’ said Thad. 

^‘Keep his attention attracted until I can get 
a bead on him, ’ ’ said Dick in a low tone. 

Don’t lose your nerve, Dick, or we won’t 
get any breakfast,” called Tom. 

Never fear for my nerve. I’ll fix him.” 

Thad climbed down a few feet and began to 
pelt the boar with hickory nuts. The grim old 
warrior put his front feet up on the trunk of 
the tree and looked up viciously at Thad, gnash- 
ing his teeth and champing his great foam- 
flecked jaws, as he tried to reach his tormentor. 

Dick edged around until he obtained a fair 
view of the old fellow. 

^‘Now let him come whenever he is ready. 
Hello, piggy, tackle somebody nearer your size ; 
don’t tree children,” Dick shouted, throwing 
the rifle to his face. 

The boar dropped to the ground and faced 
his new antagonist. He caught sight of Dick 
and Bruno and made a rush for them, his little 


232 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


eyes twinkling with rage. Ere he had taken 
two steps Dick sent a bullet from the 45-70 
crashing through his head, square between the 
eyes, and the belligerent brute dropped dead in 
his tracks. 

‘‘Any more of his gentry around U’ inquired 
Dick coolly, as he threw another shell in the gun. 

“I hope not, for goodness’ sake. I am hun- 
gry, ’ ’ came from Frank over in another tree. 

“Hello, Frank, are you alive? I thought 
maybe the old boar had made a meal of you. 
You are a nice fellow to send after fish,” 
laughed Dick. 

‘ ‘ I haven ’t a thing to say except I am glad I 
saved my fish-rod, ’ ’ replied Frank meekly, slid- 
ing down the tree to join his comrades. 

“Had you caught any fish before the old fel- 
low declared hostilities?” said Tom. 

“Yes, I had four nice bass and was having 
more fun than a Dutch beer garden, when that 
old hoar charged down on me. I knew I couldn’t 
outrun him so I threw my rod up in some bushes 
and skedaddled for a tree.” 

Frank’s rod and fish were found intact, and 
the four young hunters hurried to the boat with 
ravenous appetites. 

After breakfast the Greased Lightning was 
again started on her way, the boys leisurely 
picking the quail and joking about their ad- 
venture as they floated along. 

About ten o ’clock they noticed a great number 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 2^3 


of ducks pouring over the timber, and our young 
hunters knew there was some attraction for the 
wildfowl in that neighborhood. The boat was 
landed and Thad and Tom shouldered their 
guns and started through the woods to try and 
locate the birds. In about an hour they re- 
turned, looking jubilant. 

^^Boys, we have struck it just right,’’ cried 
Thad gleefully. ‘‘Just through the woods a 
little way are bottoms filled with rice lakes, be- 
sides several in the timber, and the ducks and 
geese are everywhere.” 

“Where shall we keep the boat, on the river 
bank*?’/ Dick asked, his eyes lighting up like a 
war horse sniffing the battle. 

“No, there is a nice little pocket right around 
a point about eighty rods below here, ’ ’ returned 
Thad, casting oft the lines and springing 
aboard. 

‘ ‘ Gee, won ’t we smash ’em ! ’ ’ cried Dick, dan- 
cing a hornpipe to the edification of his mates. 
For a bigger duck crank never lived than Dick 
Kingston. 

In due time the Greased Lightning rounded 
the point and was poled up in tlie little pocket 
secure from the wind and waves of the Missis- 
sippi. The boys then got everything ready to 
go immediately after dinner and pick out the 
best shooting points. 

Bight here let me call the attention of my 
young readers to that very thing. When hunt- 


234 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


ing wildfowl on strange grounds, or even on fa- 
miliar grounds if you haven’t been shooting for 
some days, always make it a rule to look the 
ground over, find out where the ducks are cen- 
tering and locate the main flyways before set> 
tling down to shoot. If you have a half day to 
put in, it will pay you to spend a third of the 
time if necessary in locating the best points. 



This box isn’t nearly so heavy as the other was, Dick,’ 


Thad said 


(Page 313) 


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CHAPTER XIL 


DUCK SHOOTING. 

After dinner there was a general powwow, 
and a donning of warm shooting clothes. Every- 
body of course was talking and laughing at 
once in happy anticipation. What sized shot 
to take and how many shells, must be discussed 
at some length. Thad and Dick preferred num- 
ber 7 shot, Tom pinned his faith to 5^s, while 
Frank, whose experience had been limited, took 
number 6^s. 

Bruno was the biggest and happiest toad in 
the puddle. He knew very well what was up, 
the sharp old scamp. He would walk up to 
Dick, snitf two or three times and look up at 
him, his eyes shining with a happy, eager light, 
wave his straight, handsome brush vigorously, 
then walk around and perform the same cere- 
mony with the others. The enthusiasm of an 
intelligent hunting dog at such times is fully 
equal to his master ^s. 


236 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 


^^Now, boys/^ said Thad, who took command 
as naturally as water runs down hill, ^Het^s re- 
connoitre first, and locate the birds. We may 
not get much shooting this afternoon, but we 
will find out where to go, and be ready at day- 
light in the morning to do business. ^ ^ 

^ ^ Shall we separate, each man for himself, or 
go in pairs asked Tom. 

‘^Better go two together I guess, although it 
doesnT make much ditference this afternoon. 
The principal thing is to locate the best flyways 
and feeding grounds. ’ ’ 

‘^Who takes Bruno? He canT go with all of 
us, ’ ’ said Dick. 

^‘You and Tom can take him to-day; by to- 
morrow we will know where he is needed most. 
ITl take Frank with me.’’ 

The Greased Lightning was securely fastened, 
and the boys separated, Tom and Dick with 
Bruno going out on the open bottom, while 
Thad and Frank made a circuit through the tim- 
ber to see if the wildfowl used the wooded lakes 
to any extent. Nearly every lake contained a 
few ducks, but not enough worth bothering 
with; and Thad was quick to discover that the 
main body of wildfowl was feeding in the rice 
lakes and ponds on the bottom. 

The last lake they went to, and the one near- 
est the bottoms, in fact they could see the bot- 
toms through the scattered trees, Thad saw at 
a glance was an excellent place for ducks ordi- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 237 


narily. It was surrounded by trees, and along 
one side the tall canes of wild rice (or oats 
rather) extended two-thirds of the length. The 
lake terminated at the south end in a clear, nar- 
row run not over twenty-five yards in width. 
But to-day, for some reason, the wildfowl were 
feeding on the open bottom lakes. 

^ ^ Come on, Frank. Let ’s get out on the bot- 
toms, that is where the ducks are to-day. I 
heard Dick and Tom shoot several times and we 
haven’t had a shot. This ought to be a good 
lake though on a windy day. ’ ’ 

They came out on the open meadow, well to 
the north of where Dick and Tom had gone, and 
saw ducks everywhere. 

‘‘Just as I expected, the ducks are in the rice 
lakes. Now keep your eye peeled and watch 
where they seem to center mostly. ’ ’ 

Thad soon saw that most of the wildfowl 
passed up or down a chain of small lakes when 
they came in from the river. 

“Come on, Frank, here is the place for us 
between these two lakes, and the grass is mowed, 
too.” 

A few moments later they were on the pass. 

“Here is a little bunch of grass; I wonder if 
the haymakers left it on purpose for a blind.” 
. Upon walking up to it, the boys found an old, 
worn-out mower that had been left in the field, 
and from shiftlessness or some other reason the 
haymakers had mowed around instead of re- 


238 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


moving the obstruction. The result was an 
ideal blind for duck shooters, and in just the 
proper spot. 

^ ^ Here is a snap, Frank, ’ ^ said Thad, seating 
himself on the broken frame, ^ ‘ a seat and mowed 
ground to drop our ducks on. ^ ’ 

‘^This is jolly. You watch south and I’ll 
watch north, ’ ’ Frank replied, seating himself. 

i i There go Tom and Dick, ’ ’ and Thad pointed 
to the south where two white puffs of smoke fol- 
lowed in quick succession, and two or three sec- 
onds later came the dull boom, boom of the guns. 

‘‘They must have killed the whole flock; I 
don’t see any flying away.” 

“Lie low. Here comes a flock right at us,” 
and Frank grasped his gun firmly. 

“An overhead shot. You try them, Frank.” 

A dozen bluebills dashed over the blind, and 
Frank sent two charges of shot whizzing 
straight up in the air, but to no purpose. Theu 
Thad turned quick as a flash, and cut down 
three. 

“I must be too slow on the trigger,” said 
Frank, considerably chagrined. 

“You either stopped your gun or didn’t hold 
far enough ahead. In fact I think you shot 
straight up in the air and trusted to luck, ’ ’ re- 
plied Thad smiling, as he started to pick up the 
birds. 

“ Thad, Thad, hurry up and get into the blind. 
Here is a flock. ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 239 


Thad turned with, the ducks in his hand, and 
saw a big flock of mallards coming, not twenty 
yards high. There was no time to reach the 
blind, so he slowly sank to the ground and lay 
motionless on his back. 

Frank fervently hoped for better luck as he 
poked the gun through the grass. The sharp- 
eyed birds caught the glitter of the gun and 
sprang in the air, scattering in all directions. 
The range was so short it was almost like 
shooting at a mark, and as Frank centered on a 
big greenhead drake, he saw with supreme 
delight the bird wilt in the air. He was a little 
too slow with the second barrel, however, and 
only succeeded in getting a few feathers that 
floated down from the rapidly fleeing bird. 

Then he heard two reports followed by a 
thumf), thump, as Thad dropped a pair. The 
scattered flock got its decimated ranks together 
a few yards below and went on down the bot- 
toms while Thad picked up his game and hur- 
ried to the blind. 

‘‘Watch whether Dick and Tom get any out 
of that bunch, ’ ^ said Thad. 

The ducks, however, veered otf to another 
lake before they reached the next horneUs nest. 

From the frequent puffs of smoke, Tom and 
Dick were not idle. They had a good position 
at the north end of a lake, the farthest one to 
the south on the open meadow. To the north 
another lake separated by a thirty-yard strip 


240 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


of uncut meadow grass formed the next link in 
the chain. Tom and Dick stood in the middle of 
the pass so the ducks would fall on the hard 
ground, where it was holiday sport for Bruno 
to find them in the grass. 

^ ‘ There are Thad and Frank now, out on the 
bottoms. See that puff of smoke to the north 
said Dick. 

^ There they go again, said Tom presently. 
^‘See those mallards go up in the airU’ 

^^TheyVe dropped one,” cried Dick, ‘‘and 
there comes another.” 

“Thad is poison on ducks,” said Tom. 

Zip! A pair of teal went over their heads 
from the south only a few feet high, going a 
mile or two a minute. Dick gave them a charge 
for luck but it was an even race between the 
ducks and the shot with the chances in favor of 
the ducks on account of the start they had. 

‘ ‘ That is what we get for not watching both 
ways,” said Tom. 

“Yes, that would have been a beautiful head- 
on shot.” 

“This chain of lakes seems to be the favorite 
flyway, but I don’t know but we ought to scat- 
ter out more in the morning. ’ ’ 

“We could kill more ducks that way; the only 
trouble would be in finding them, as only one 
could use the dog, ’ ’ Dick replied. 

“Jumpin’ John Rogers! Dick, see that flock 
of geese sailing around over the bottoms not 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 241 


more than four rods high? They jnst came in 
from the river. Oh! if they would only come 
this way.’^ 

^^Jnst onr luck to have them go over Thad 
and Frank, ^ ’ said Dick, as they crouched in the 
grass. 

^‘Say, Tom, here comes a big flock of mal- 
lards from the south. Shall we give it to ^em, 
or lie low for the geese? whispered Dick. 

^ ‘ Better wait for the geese ; they are old lun- 
kers. ^ ^ 

The mallards swept by so close the boys could 
see the whites of their eyes, little dreaming that 
a distant flock of geese had saved them from an- 
nihilation. 

i i There they go over to Thad and Frank, just 
our luck*,’^ said Dick petulantly. 

‘^No, they have turned and are coming this 
way, ^ ’ cried Tom in an ecstasy of delight. 

The geese bore steadily along until Tom’s 
and Dick’s faces were wreathed in smiles and 
they began to nudge each other in anticipation, 
when the aggravating fowls turned and circled 
over the bottoms again. 

‘‘You old barnacles, you know better than to 
come this way,” cried Dick, shaking his flst at 
the retreating birds. 

‘ ‘ Too bad, but no use kicking, ’ ’ said Tom re- 
gretfully. 

The wary birds circled over the meadow again 
and again, totally unconscious of the fact that 


242 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


four pairs of sharp, eager eyes were watching 
every movement. 

Now Thad and Frank would be thrown into 
a paroxysm of joy and crouch low in the blind 
with glistening eyes and beating hearts as the 
geese headed their way, only to have their hopes 
blasted and see Tom’s and Dick’s goose stock 
soar rapidly above par for a few minutes. 

^‘The aggravating things,” muttered Dick 
after the geese had headed his way two or three 
times, ‘^we have lost half a dozen shots at ducks 
already. The next flock that comes along I’m 
going to sock it to ’em and let the geese go to 
thunder.” 

He was good as his word, for as the next 
bunch came up from the south, Dick smashed 
away. 

Just as he pulled the trigger, Tom cried : 

Don’t shoot. The geese are coming this 
way again. ’ ’ 

^ ‘ Too late. Life is too short anyhow to wait 
for geese that never come, ’ ’ replied Dick in dis- 
gust, as he sent Bruno after a bluebill he had 
knocked down. 

^‘Look there,” cried Tom. 

The geese hearing the report turned honking 
and calling, and made a bee-line toward Thad 
and Frank. 

‘‘Wouldn’t that make a fellow rob his grand- 
mother,” growled Tom in disgust, as he 
watched the great birds honking along north. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 243 


‘‘Yes, sir; they’re going straight over Thad 
and Frank. Now look out for sqnalls. Hades 
will let ont for recess in a minute, ’ ’ cried Dick, 
beginning to get excited. 

The geese had evidently decided that the lo- 
cality was unhealthy, for they were heading 
north in great haste. 

Suddenly a white puff of smoke leaped up, 
then another, then two more in quick succession, 
and Dick and Tom counted one, two, three great 
bodies falling from the sky, mangled with the 
boom, boom, boom, boom of the guns. 

“Three old honkers. Bully!” shouted Dick, 
throwing up his hat just in time to frighten the 
daylights out of a pair of mallards that were 
stealing over them. 

“If they had only come our way,” sighed 
Tom. 

“What’s the difference? It’s all in the fam- 
ily.’’ 

“So let the wide world wag as it will. 

We’ll be gay and happy still,” 

sang Dick, who had recovered his good nature. 
“Let’s go up where the boys are; it is getting 
along in the shank of the afternoon.” 

Numerous ducks were routed out on their way 
up the lakes, for they walked boldly along with- 
out any attempt at concealment. When near 
the head of the second lake, within a hundred 
yards of Thad and Frank, they stopped to watch 


244 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


the great number of jack-snipe getting up from 
the soft mud, ‘‘scapeing,’’ and darting in all di- 
rections. 

Dick had just remarked: ^^We ought to put 
in one day on jacks/’ when a hen mallard 
sprang up within ten feet of him. 

Both guns went to a level in a second and two 
charges of shot tore viciously past the big brown 
hen, but she fell not. Then another broadside 
went after her, but the daring fowl only 
quacked derisively and hurried away to meet 
some friends. The one comment, ‘‘Well, I’ll 
be Mowed, ’ ’ and two very sheepish-looking boys 
walked over to Thad’s and Frank’s blind. 

‘ ‘ I wonder if the boys saw that circus, ’ ’ mur- 
mured Tom. 

“Don’t worry; they’ll tell you about it,” re- 
plied Dick consolingly. 

“Did the old mallard fly out of your pocket?” 
inquired Thad, as the boys came up. 

“Say, if you fellows have no objection we will 
discuss something else,” replied Tom, setting 
down his gun. 

“Yes, you and Frank dis, and Tom and I will 
cuss for not getting a shot at those geese,” re- 
marked Dick. 

“They are dandies, aren’t they?” said Frank. 

“Old seed Canadas, sure,” and Tom lifted 
one of the big, handsome birds. “Fat as but- 
ter too. ’ ’ 

“Say, boys,” said Thad, “I’ll tell you what 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 245 


leUs do. Go to camp and get a bite to eat and 
come back for an evening shooting on these 
rice lakes. ’ ’ 

‘‘Good spiel. It strikes the undersigned fa- 
vorably,’’ remarked Dick, and Tom and Frank 
assented. 

“Let’s get a four dollar move on us then. 
How many ducks have you fellows got!” 

“Fourteen,” Tom replied. 

“And we have twelve, and three geese. Come 
on.” 

They hurried across the bottoms, for the 
short autumn afternoon was rapidly wearing 
away. A cup of hot cotfee was quickly made, 
which with bread and butter was swallowed 
with an utter disregard of all rules governing 
mastication, and with fine disregard of their 
digestion. But whoever heard of a young hun- 
ter or fisherman having trouble with his diges- 
tion! The only bother is in getting enough to 
eat. 

“Boys,” said Dick when their shell pockets 
had been replenished and they were ready to 
start, “there is a small lake just east of where 
Tom and I stood that I think will be a good one 
for evening shooting. I noticed mallards sail- 
ing around there all the afternoon.” 

“I believe Dick’s head is level there. We 
spoke of that lake several times, ’ ’ said Tom. 

“All right,” said Thad, “we will take you 
fellows’ word for it and go there. Too bad we 
only have one dog though/' 


246 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


The rice lake mentioned was not over one 
hundred yards in length and fifty in width, and 
could be waded with hip boots. Tom and Dick 
stationed themselves at opposite sides of the 
lower end, while Thad and Frank took positions 
near the upper end. 

Everybody was cautioned not to get excited 
and shoot toward his neighbor. Thad gave 
Frank an extra coaching after they got settled. 

‘‘Now, Frank,’’ he said, “I don’t know how 
thick they will come, but remember and don’t 
get rattled if they are like a swarm of bees. 
Pick your duck and follow him, don’t pay any 
attention to the others.” 

“I will try to remember,” Frank responded 
lightly, for he thought Thad was overstating 
the situation a little. 

The latter said no more but went across to 
his stand. 

It was a clear, still evening when they crossed 
the bottoms and the declining sun hung low in 
the west. The winds had gone to sleep and a 
quiet peace brooded over the world. The only 
sign of life was the wildfowl circling over the 
lakes or winnowing the air high overhead on 
their way south; and myriads of migrating 
blackbirds. 

. The shooting soon began, and as the sun sank 
lower the ducks came in increasing numbers. 
That evening was long remembered by Frank 
Howard. It was his first introduction to an 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 247 


evening seance with a swarm of buzzing, cir- 
cling wildfowl. 

Slowly the sun dipped below the horizon, and 
over the west a golden halo hung like the re- 
flection from some mighty conflagration. As 
the fiery splendor slowly faded in the west the 
ducks seemed to think the last call had been 
sounded for supper, and the sight of such num- 
bers swarming into those rice ponds was nerve- 
shattering to one not accustomed to seeing it. 

Frank did fairly good work at first, for the 
ducks came at intervals and being mostly mal- 
lards were comparatively easy to hit. He 
chuckled quietly to himself to think how Thad 
had tried to guy him about getting rattled. 

It was still daylight, but the uncanny purpling 
east gave token that darkness was near at hand, 
when inside of five minutes it looked as if every 
duck in the United States was trying to crowd in 
that little rice lake for supper. It was an excel- 
lent reproduction of bees swarming, with the 
odds in favor of the ducks in point of numbers. 

Frank was fascinated with the sport at first. 
To have the big, handsome greenheads come 
sailing around within close range everv few 
minutes was great fun, and he mentally voted 
it the finest sport in which he had ever indulged. 

Pretty soon the birds came faster; the heav- 
ens seemed to be a great hopper from which 
ducks poured by the millions, and in a moment 
almost he found himself surrounded by more 


248 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI, 


ducks than he supposed were on earth. Vainly 
he tried to get aim on a bird. Others would come 
between, and the gun would swing after the 
nearer birds. Every moment he became more 
bewildered, until finally he set the gun down in 
despair, and watched with dumb wonder the 
dashing panorama of circling, crossing, whiz- 
zing ducks. 

The other guns were belching forth death and 
destruction, and Frank soon saw what a cool 
head and a quick eye could do. When the flight 
was at its heaviest, Thad did not kill less than 
a duck a minute and sometimes two. While 
Frank wondered how he did it, Thad selected a 
bird, killed it, swung on another and killed that 
with as much coolness and precision as though 
they were the only two birds on the lake. The 
gun was broken in a second, two more shells in- 
serted and the same thing repeated time after 
time. 

Down at Dick^s and Tom’s end, flash followed 
flash, showing that those duck hunters had 
passed the excited stage and were holding down 
their job successfully. 

In a short time it was all over. The light 
faded in the west, and a duck could only be seen 
on a line with the departed sun. The flight 
eased off as the ducks settled in the marshes, 
until there was only an occasional whirr of 
wings, with the shooter vainly peering into the 
purple gloom to locate the birds. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 249 


Thad shouted over the pond : 

‘‘Let^s quit, boys. It^s getting too dark.’^ , 

An answering shout came from the foot of the 
lake, and Frank walked around to help Thad. 

‘‘What luck, Frank! 

“DonT ask me. Only five,’’ in a disgusted 
tone from Frank. 

Thad laughed. ‘ ‘ I warned you. ’ ’ 

“I know it, but I thought you were trying to 
guy me. ’ ’ 

“No, I meant it. I went through the same 
thing when I started in. ’ ’ 

“Yes, I see now you did,” replied Frank 
dryly. ‘ ‘ How many did you get ! ’ ’ 

“Twenty, I think. I could have killed more, 
but had to drop them in a certain spot so I could 
be sure of finding them.” 

Tom and Dick with Bruno to help had thirty- 
five, and the combined load made all the boys 
wanted to carry to the boat, which was fortu- 
nately not far distant. 

‘ ‘ Gee, I am tired and hungry, and no supper 
ready,” sighed Dick, dropping his load and 
falling into a chair. 

“I’ll get supper,” said Tom good-naturedly. 
“It’s about my turn to take another whirl at it 
anyhow. ’ ’ 

“Noble boy. Henceforth I am your bond 
servant. ’ ’ 

While Tom started supper the others hung 
up the ducks, and then came the most enjoyable 


250 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


part of the shoot, as the boys exchanged rubber 
boots for easy slippers, and lolled on chairs 
while they told of their hits and misses. 

And that supper! Surely no meal ever pre- 
pared in the palace of a millionaire could com- 
pare with it in delicious flavor, seasoned with 
appetites that could have relished an old boot. 

After supper, when everybody was feeling 
comfortable, Thad said: 

‘‘How are you fellows fixed, want to get out 
at daylight 

Dense silence reigned and all gazed thought- 
fully into the fire. 

Thad laughed. “I guess you are all like me 
—too tired and sleepy.^’ 

A vigorous nodding of three sleepy heads fol- 
lowed. 

“Then IT tell you what let^s do; shoot jack- 
snipe to-morrow forenoon and start down the 
river after dinner. ’ ’ 

Everybody agreed to that proposition and 
the boys retired to dream of circling ducks and 
honking geese. 


CHAPTER XIIL 


JACK-SNIPE. 

‘ ^ What was the matter with you last evening, 
Frank? You didnT seem to shoot much,^’ Dick 
inquired at the breakfast table next morning. 

Frank was one of those sensitive, thin-skinned 
fellows who are easily disconcerted, and he red- 
dened slightly under Dick’s keen, mischievous 
eyes ; but finally laughed and said frankly : 

‘ ^ I might as well make a clean breast of it. I 
got so rattled and mixed up I couldn’t do a 
thing, so I quit trying. The ducks swarmed 
around me so thick I might as well have tried 
to hit bees swarming.” 

‘‘Was that your first introduction to that kind 
of shooting?” asked Tom. 

“Yes. I never saw anything like it before.” 

“The only wonder is you managed to get 
five,” said Thad. “I can remember shooting 
all one evening and only winging one mallard. ’ ’ 


252 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


all went throngli the same experience/’ 
said Tom. ‘‘Yon will get used to it after a few 
trips like that one last night. ’ ’ 

After breakfast shell vests were filled with 
number 9’s and the hoys were ready. 

“Now everybody scatter out for himself; 
wherever there is mud you will find snipe, ’ ’ said 
Thad, as they started over the bottoms. 

It was another still, warm day, therefore an 
ideal one for snipe shooting. The birds were 
fat and lazy and soon a merry fusillade was in 
progress, as the boys spread over the bottoms. 
The snipe had evidently not been disturbed for 
they lay very close, and Thad, Dick, and Tom 
did fine execution. 

Frank, however, whose experience with snipe 
had been very limited, did not fare so well. He 
could not get the idea into his head that he must 
not shut his left eye and get a bead as though 
shooting at a target; consequently many birds 
were out of range ere he could get a satisfactory 
aim, and he did not shoot. In a couple of hours 
he rounded up near Thad with four birds, and 
the latter asked: 

“How you making it, Frank?” 

“Not very good, I guess. I have only four; 
how many have you ? ’ ’ 

“Fifteen. Come with me a while and let’s 
see how you do it. ’ ’ 

A few yards and Bruno pointed. “Now, 
Frank.’' 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 253 


A zigzag flash of brown darted away and 
Frank gun came to a level. After swaying 
it to the right and left until the snipe was sixty 
yards distant, he lowered the gun with a vexa- 
tious laugh. 

‘‘They are too quick for me. I canT get aim 
half the time until they are too far away.’’ 

“You try to get too good aim. Shoot the 
moment you see the bird over the barrel, hit or 
miss. Don’t try to better your aim. Here is 
another. I will show you what I mean.” 

A snipe sprang from the mud, and Thad 
threw up the gun and cut it down at thirty-five 
yards. “You see I was fortunate to throw the 
gun right and killed this one; but if I had 
thrown the gun six inches out of line, I should 
have shot just the same and trusted to luck for 
an outside pellet to bring down the bird, as it re- 
quires but a slight blow to knock them down.” 

“I catch your idea,” replied Frank, “but it 
is another thing to put it in practice success- 
fully. ’ ’ 

“Practice is all you need after you get the 
idea. Practice brings confidence, and that is 
what you want. Keep banging away as if you 
didn’t care a continental whether you killed a 
snipe or not.” 

The next bird arose very close, and Frank 
sent a charge of shot across the mud ere it had 
gone five yards ; but it went on with a derisive 
“scape,” 


254 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^‘That bird was too close, and you made a 
snap-shot on him , ' ’ said Thad. 

^ ‘ What is a snap-shot ! ^ ^ 

‘‘It is when you shoot the instant the gun 
touches the shoulder, regardless of where it is 
pointed. There are times when snap-shooting 
is necessary, as for instance in dense brush 
when shooting woodcock, but in open ground it 
is poor practice as the birds are frequently cut 
to pieces. The only time it is useful is when 
the birds rise wild and are liable to get out of 
range before you can get a legitimate shot.’’ 

The birds were numerous and Frank under 
Thad’s instructions kept banging away, some- 
times grassing his bird but oftener missing. 

After an hour’s shooting, however, Thad no- 
ticed that Frank’s kills became more numerous. 
“You are getting onto it all right, Frank,” he 
cried when the latter had successively rolled 
two snipe in the mud. 

“ Yes ; if I keep up that gait I am afraid I will 
get the swell head,” grinned Frank. 

“Don’t worry yet. You won’t keep up that 
gait,” said Thad consolingly. “Let’s cross 
over to that little swale. It ought to be a good 
place for snipe.” 

They were crossing the meadow to the swale, 
when Thad suddenly stopped. 

“Now what has Bruno got? Chickens I’ll 
bet.” 

Bruno was rigid a few yards to the left, the 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 255 


picture of statuesque repose. Not a muscle 
moved. To all appearances the dog had turned 
to stone. 

‘‘Change your shell for 6%^’ said Thad in a 
low tone. 

As they approached the dog, Thad said warn- 
ingly: “Be ready now, they are old, strong 
birds. ’ ^ 

Whirr! Cut-cut-cut-cut, and big brown bird 
struck the ground with a thump at Thad^s first 
barrel. 

Whirr ! Cut-cut-cut-cut, and a big brown bird 
tions. Bang, bang, bang, and the guns were 
empty. 

Frank was hurriedly trying to get another 
shell in his gun, when another bird rose at one 
side and sailed away, only to be dropped at fifty 
yards by Thad. 

“How do you change shells so quickly!’^ in- 
quired Frank. 

“Practice, practice, my son. Did you get 
any!’^ 

“I think I winged one with the last barrel. 
They knock my nerves all to pieces when they 
roar up so suddenly, and I donT believe I came 
within four feet of the first one,’’ replied Frank. 

“You must learn not to have any nerves or 
leave them at home. ’ ’ 

“I wish I could.” 

“You will after awhile.” 

Bruno retrieved four chickens and they 


256 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

crossed to another lake. Just before reaching it 
Thad saw to the south a lone goose coming up 
the shore very low. 

^ ^ Get in the grass quick, Frank, ’ ’ and crouch- 
ing low they quickly gained the shelter of the 
rushes. 

‘‘Here is a chance for you to double up a 
single goose, ^ ^ Thad whispered. 

Frank ^s eyes glistened and he murmured: 
“IJl fix him.^’ 

Crouched low in the rushes, the boys could 
just see the goose through the tops, slowly honk- 
ing* along, winnowing the air with steady wing- 
beats. 

“Gee won’t I smash him,” murmured Frank, 
breaking his gun to be sure the shells were all 
right. 

“He will never get by,” whispered Thad 
grimly, “if you don’t kill him I will.” 

It was a burning, outrageous shame, but after 
the boys had jollied and nudged each other and 
licked their lips in anticipation, they looked 
through the rushes just in time to see a blast 
of lightning hit that goose that knocked it forty 
ways for Sunday, and it crashed down in the 
rushes. At least it seemed to be lightning, for 
not a sound was heard when the big fowl dou- 
bled in the air so dead was it killed, but a second 
later came the sharp report of a gun, and the 
boys “tumbled.” 

“That is what I call a mighty mean trick, 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 257 


grumbled Frank, as they straightened up to 
see who the lucky shooter was. 

^Ht is Dick, of course,’’ grumbled Thad, and 
so it proved. 

Now unbeknown to Thad and Frank, Tom 
from another lake had watched the whole pro- 
ceeding. He saw the goose going up the lake, 
saw Dick dodge in the rushes, and a moment 
later saw Thad and Frank do the same. As 
Dick came tramping up the shore carrying the 
big Canada by the neck his face shining like the 
full moon, Thad and Frank stepped out of the 
rushes looking rather solemn. 

^ ^ That was a scurvy trick to play on a couple 
of orphans when they had their mouths fixed to 
kill a goose.” 

Dick stopped and stared, then the situation 
dawning on him, he dropped the goose and 
laughed until his sides ached. 

Tom came over where the others were, his 
mouth extended from ear to ear: Don’t say a 
word, I saw the whole thing.” 

‘‘Don’t you think Dick ought to go without 
his dinner?” asked Frank, trying to look sol- 
emn. 

“Well— ahem. To tell the truth, I would 
rather not umpire this thing, for if I had been 
where Dick was I might have acted bad, too. ’ ’ 

“The joke is on us, Thad,” said Frank with 
a comical sigh of resignation. 

“I am glad you mentioned dinner, for I am 
nearly starved,” quoth Dick. 


258 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘Ht is almost noon. I suppose we might call 
it a half day, ’ ’ said Thad, looking at his watch. 

“How much game have we, I wonder, said 
Dick, turning his pockets inside out. 

Everybody did the same. Tom had twenty- 
three jack-snipe, and two ducks; Dick twenty- 
nine snipe and one goose ; and Thad and Frank 
forty snipe and four prairie chickens. 

“We lack four of eight dozen. We can get 
those on the way to camp. Come on; I^m hun- 
gry, ’ ’ cried Dick, starting off. 

The four was increased to six and in addition 
a stray woodcock, before they reached the 
Greased Lightning, tired and hungry but in 
great spirits. 

Tom set about getting dinner while Dick 
munched a fried-cake to stay his stomach. 

“What^s the matter with the crew getting 
this Mississippi liner out to sea, and eating our 
dinner on the bounding billows U’ said Thad. 

“The crew’s shore leave don’t expire until 
after dinner. I think the Commodore had bet- 
ter make out his manifest and get ready to 
ship,” said Dick calmly. 

‘ ^ Don ’t talk mutiny or we will put you in the 
hold and batten down the hatches,” said the 
Commodore sternly. 

“Just so you batten the dinner down with 
me, I don’t care,” and Dick chewed away on his 
doughnut. 

“You talk mutiny. As a penalty your din- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 259 


ner allowance is cat to two fowls, half a peck of 
potatoes, two cups of coffee, a loaf of bread, 
and quarter of a pie. Cook, see that the order 
is enforced.” 

‘‘Aye, aye, sir. If there is grub enongh.” 

Snipe shooting is a mnscle-tiring, hunger- 
compelling pastime, and when our lads finally 
arose from the dinner table there wasn’t grub 
enough left, as Tom expressed it, “to wad a 
shotgun. ’ ’ 

Then the Greased Lightning was loosed from 
her moorings, poled out in the river, and sent 
drifting down the broad waterway. 


CHAPTEE XIV. 


DICK TURNS ORNITHOLOGIST. 

‘‘Have you fellows any idea how far it is to 
the next town 1 ^ ^ inquired Dick, when they were 
fairly afloat on the bosom of the blue waters 
shimmering in the sunlight. 

“I have no more idea than that blue crane, 
but it can^t be over ten or fifteen miles,’’ Thad 
replied. 

“See how the leaves are falling to-day. I 
hadn’t noticed their falling that way before,” 
said Frank, pointing to the densely wooded 
hills. 

“They haven’t been dropping that way be- 
fore,” replied Tom; “that sharp frost last night 
is what started them. ’ ’ 

In truth the leaves were falling, and rapidly 
too. From every wooded island, high up the 
towering hills on either side, the airy little tru- 
ants, now that their mission was done, fluttered 
away from the mother tree. Caught by the light 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 261 


north breeze they circled, eddied, and whirled 
gracefully through the forest with the soft mur- 
mur of pattering raindrops. Every shade of 
gold, crimson, green, and brown was represented 
in the picture delicately penciled by that weird 
artist. Jack Frost. Far up the hillside, sur- 
rounded by its fellows, a tree would be turned 
to blood. Another tried to outshine its com- 
panions with a cloak of gaudiest yellow. Still 
another retained its summer robe of green, pa- 
thetically holding the fort against the bombard- 
ment of its cruel foe— the Winter King. From 
the base of the hills to the summit, almost every 
color of the rainbow was represented, forming 
a picture of surpassing beauty ; while far below 
as a background, a mile-wide hand of steel blue 
rippled and danced in the shimmering sunlight. 

The only subduing thought that disturbed 
the beholder gazing spell-bound on this magic 
scene, was the regret that such gorgeous splen- 
dor was the hectic flush of death. 

‘‘Did you ever see a picture that would beat 
that, Frank ? ’ ^ asked Thad, as the two sat drink- 
ing in the beauties of the scene from the deck of 
the Greased Lightning. 

“No, I never did. I have seen many pictures 
by the old masters, in fact we have several at 
home, but all look cheap and trivial beside the 
brush of nature, returned Frank quietly, and 
then added: “But this surpasses anything I 
ever saw even by Nature. No wonder you fel- 


262 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


lows all love the Mississippi and swear by her. ’ ’ 
tell you there’s nothing too grand for the 
old girl on the upper river; I don’t know how 
it is down South,” put in Tom, who, although 
of a practical turn of mind, had an eye for 
beauty. 

‘‘The only thing that makes me sad is to 
think it is the forerunner of winter,” remarked 
Thad. 

“Shucks, that doesn’t bother me a bit,” said 
Dick. “I like winter. I like the cold, crisp air 
and the snow banks and the sliding down hill 
and the skating. I think it’s fun to sit by the 
fire and watch the snow blow and whirl, and 
hear the wind howl around the house while a 
fellow is warm and jolly inside. Then think of 
the buckwheat cakes, maple syrup, sausages, 
and tenderloin. Yum, yum.” 

A dismal groan, a dropping of heads, and 
three boys were snoring vigorously. 

Dick went on serenely. “I tell you, boys, 
there’s nothing like it. Just imagine a morn- 
ing twenty-seven degrees below zero, and sitting 
down to a breakfast of hot buckwheat cakes, 
maple syrup, tenderloin, and delicious coffee. 
By George, I would rather have winter than 
summer. ’ ’ 

“Hanged if that animal don’t make me hun- 
gry for buckwheat cakes, ’ ’ said Tom, sitting up 
and laughing. 

That sally made everybody laugh. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 263 


Frank said: ^^Dick is a trump. He would 
make a wooden Indian hungry with his de- 
scription. I wouldn’t mind a few buckwheats 
myself. ’ ’ 

very seductive cold-weather picture to a 
hungry man, I’ll admit,” said Thad. 

^‘Boys,” said Dick, slapping his leg, ^^as 
Thad says, I Hhunk a thought.’ ” 

‘^Fire away,” from Tom. 

Let’s get some fresh buckwheat flour at 
some of these little jerk-water towns and have 
buckwheat cakes for breakfast.” 

Much to Dick’s surprise everybody shouted 
‘‘aye” instantly, causing him to remark: “You 
fellows exhibit a surprising amount of sense, 
considering. ’ ’ A quiet dig at their recent som- 
nolent antics. 

“Hold on. Who can make them?” asked 
Frank. 

“Don’t you worry,” said Dick calmly. “I 
can beat the man that invented the flour. I 
learned from mamma.” 

“That settles our troubles there,” said Tom. 

“While I think of it,” Frank remarked, “did 
any of you fellows ever read up on the Latin 
names of different varieties of ducks and 
snipe ? ’ ’ 

“I did,” responded Tom promptly, “and for- 
got it as fast as I read it. I never could re- 
member those confounded jaw-breaking Latin 
names. ’ ’ 


264 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

‘^Dick here is authority on duckology, I be- 
lieve. He and I studied it all one winter/’ ob- 
served Thad. 

‘‘Come on, Dick, and exhale a little of your 
knowledge of wildfowl for the benefit of your 
ignorant companions, ’ ’ remarked Frank. 

‘ ‘Well, my young friends, ’ ’ said Dick thought- 
fully, “our old parson down home taught us 
that it was our duty to enlighten the heathen 
at every opportunity, so I suppose I may as 
well begin right here. ’ ’ 

“That isn’t bad either,” laughed Frank. 

Dick pointed to the large number of wildfowl 
suspended in bunches from the outside of the 
Greased Lightning, and said: 

“My young friends, that large, handsome 
duck with the green head is the Anas hoschas, 
commonly known as the mallard. This bird has 
a peculiar habit of swarming in the rice lakes 
in the evening to feed in vast numbers, thereby 
causing young and inexperienced shooters to 
get badly rattled and mixed up. In fact I have 
known young shooters of a nervous tempera- 
ment to set down their guns and not make an 
etfort to shoot. Of course that happened long 
ago when I was young and ducks were plenty. 
The last case of duck ague that came under my 
observation happened to a young friend of 
mine. It occurred at least eighteen or twenty- 
hours ago, but I remember it quite well. ’ ’ 

A vigorous hand clapping greeted this hatch 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 265 


of information, Frank, despite a very red face, 
joining in with the others. 

^ ‘ This small, grayish-brown dnck with the ul- 
tramarine band across the wings, is the Anas 
discorsy commonly called the blue-winged teal. 
In some localities it is known as the summer 
teal. It builds nests and lays eggs same as any 
other duck. It is easily killed when hit, but 
being a swift flyer it bothers some folks to do 
the hit act. I once saw a young friend of mine 
shoot at the head end of a flock of these birds 
and kill one flying along behind in the next 
county. ’ ’ 

Maybe the gun scattered, said Thad sotio 
voce. 

‘^This duck is a fine table bird, always fat aG, 
butter in consequence of being a great feeder 
like some people I know.^’ (Cries of hear! 
hear!) 

‘‘Stop looking wise and smirking at each 
other behind the speaker's back, gentlemen.’’ 
(Cries of go on! go on!) 

“This gray duck with the white belly is the 
well known Anas strepera/^ 

“Blamed if I ever heard of it before,” inter- 
jected Tom. 

“Its common, every-day name,” the profes- 
sor went on, “is gadwell.” 

“Oh,” from Tom. 

“It also has a number of other names among 
the hunters over the country, such as grayduck, 


266 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


sand-widgeon, creekdnck, and so forth. This 
simple-minded fowl is one of the easiest ducks 
to decoy that flies. A few old wooden imitations 
huddled together is all that is necessary to bring 
it near enough to hit with a club. Like a great 
many people, instead of investigating it depends 
too much on appearances, and consequently gets 
badly fooled. Thomas, you may leave your seat 
long enough to get me a slice of jelly cake and 
a glass of water. 

Tom obediently vanished in the pantry and 
returned with four large pieces of cake and a 
glass of water. 

‘ ^ Thank you. One slice would have been suf- 
ficient, but as you have taken the trouble to 
bring them, I will— 

“Never mind,’’ Tom interrupted hastily, 
“Thad and Frank and I will hold these three 
slices until you are ready for them.” Tom dis- 
tributed the cake and the three boys proceeded 
to “hold it.” 

Dick took a sup of water, bit off a generous 
section of cake, and resumed: “Here is a duck, 
my children, that is ever surrounded with pleas- 
ant associations. It is the Anas americana or 
American widgeon. It has an indescribably 
sweet, soft, silvery, whistling call which it gives 
forth as it migrates northward in the spring, 
and I assure you after a person has passed 
through a long, cold winter,”— “On buckwheat 
cakes and sausage, ’ ’ Tom remarked to Thad and 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 267 


Frank— ^Hhe cry of this harbinger of spring is 
doubly welcome. It also has a great variety 
of common names in various parts of the coun- 
try. Some of them are— baldpate, baldface, 
wheatduck, baldcrown, whitebelly, and so forth. 
This duck also is easily decoyed, and where it 
congregates in big flocks, is found in large 
numbers. ’ ^ 

^‘That is funny. Make a note of that last re- 
mark, Frank, said Tom. 

Dick continued between bites: now come 

to a duck, my little friends, that furnishes more 
sport on the Mississippi to decoy shooters than 
any duck we have. I refer to the Aythya af- 
finis, or lesser scaup-duck.’^ 

‘ ^ Gosh all hemlock ! Has a common cubhead 
got all them fancy names?” asked Tom. 

‘‘The proper name for this chap is the blue- 
bill, but it has a different name in nearly every 
locality. Where we live it is called the cub- 
head. In other places it is known as bluebill, 
blackhead, raft-duck, bullet, whistler, flocking- 
fowl, and many other names.” 

“That’s enough for all practical purposes,” 
put in Tom. 

‘ ‘ These ducks are hard to hit and hard to kill, 
and are just moderately good eating. When 
feeding on rotten snails and other truck like 
that, they are a little better than an owl, and not 
quite so good as a blue crane. However, if the 
grub is good they are not to be sneezed at, es- 
pecially if a fellow is hungry.” 


268 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘'Guess you don’t do much sneezing then,” 
remarked Thad in an undertone, which remark 
raised a titter. 

“No laughing on the back seats, please,” 
warned the professor. 

“Professor, would you kindly batten down 
your hatches a minute while we take a squint 
for sandbars and other obstructions?” inquired 
the Commodore politely. 

“Certainly. I need some refreshments any- 
how,” and Dick went after more cake while 
Thad swept the river with the glass. 

No obstructions being noted, the crew again 
took seats ready to drink in more wisdom. 

“Before leaving the bluebill,” the professor 
continued, “I will remark that there are two 
varieties of them— the greater scaup and the 
lesser scaup, or the big bluebill and the little 
bluebill. The big bluebill I do not see here. We 
kill a few every season, but they are not very 
plenty in the interior, being a coast duck. They 
are about the size of a pintail and marked al- 
most exactly like this little bluebill. As Frank 
appears to be taking notes of the game, I will 
say for his benefit that the name of the large 
variety is Aythya marila. 

“This duck, children, you will observe is 
about the size and general appearance of the 
bluebill. In fact many unsophisticated shooters 
think it is the bluebill, but they are badly off 
their whirl. It is the Aythya collaris, or ring- 


FOUR ROYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 269 

neck. ^ ^ Dick held up side by side the two ducks 
that chanced to be tied in the same bunch. 

‘‘You will notice the feathers on the back of 
the bluebill are a fine gray and black, while the 
ringneck has a black beak. You also see the 
ringneck has a brown band around the neck 
from whence it derives its name. Also take note 
of the white band across the bill. As usual it 
has a great variety of names, such as— ringbill, 
marsh bluebill, blackjack, bastard broadbill, 
moonbill, and so forth. It flies in large flocks 
and decoys beautifully. 

“I now come to the friend of our boyhood 
days, the Aix sponsa, or woodduck; the bird 
upon which most of us fleshed our maiden 
swords. Well do I remember crawling .down 
through the deep woods in August, up to the 
bank of a hidden pond where half a dozen 
woodies were perched on a log in a row, like 
turtles asleep in the sun, poking the muzzle of 
my old gun over the bank and blowing the whole 
outfit oft the log at one shot. I am heartily 
ashamed of it now, children, since arriving at 
man^s estate, ^ “Man ^s estate is good,^^ from 
Tom in an undertone— “but then it was a 
ground-hog case. Our motto was, anyway to 
get ducks. The full plumaged male is the most 
beautiful duck that winnows the air or squeals 
over the forest pools. It is fond of acorns, and 
I have seen them swarm into an oak thicket at 
dusk, like pigeons. It isnT worth a cent to de- 
coy, but is lovely baked with sweet potatoes. 


270 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^ ‘ This large, graceful duck with the long neck 
and the pointed tail is the Dafila acuta, or pin- 
tail. It is the first duck North in the spring, 
and has a disagreeable habit of flying about 
eleven miles high and consequently out of gun 
shot. It decoys nicely, but owing to a habit of 
teetering up and down over decoys, the shooter 
is very apt to merely tear a jagged hole in the 
atmosphere and the pintail rapidly emigrates, 
while the shooter swears, jaws, or holds his tem- 
per, according to his bringing up. This duck 
has many aliases— spiketail, springtail, smee, 
spindletail, and a lot of other tails and names. 
I do not consider it a very delicious table bird 
although some folks bank on it. 

‘^This rainbow-tinted fowl I hold in my hand 
is the Spatula clypeata, or spoonbill. Observe 
what an absurdly large, broad, black bill it has, 
according to its size. One naturally supposes 
they made the bill first and then ran short of 
material to make the body according. It is a 
very foolish bird, easy to approach and easy to 
kill, compared with other ducks. This duck 
has been greatly lauded as a table bird by peo- 
ple who ought to know better. When I read of 
such men as Audubon praising its gastronomical 
qualities, I feel like tackling a blue crane to take 
the taste out of my mouth. It is possible, how- 
ever, that these people happened to be very hun- 
gry when they praised these ducks and had 
nothing else to eat. Under such circumstances 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 271 


I forgive them, for I would praise anything.” 
—‘‘That is no jolly,” from the audience— “I 
have killed a great many of these ducks, was 
brought up with them in fact, but I never yet 
saw a very fat one, and a duck to be at its best 
must be well larded with fat. It has many 
names over the country ; namely, shoveler, 
broadbill, shelldrake, hutler-duck, and many 
others. ’ ’ 

Here came a vigorous snapping of fingers. 
‘ ‘ Teacher ! ’ ’ 

‘ ‘ W ell, Thomas, what is it ? ” 

‘ ‘ Say, teacher. Maybe those fellows got hold 
of young, tender birds, and you never killed 
anything but old, tough cripples.” 

“Thomas Evans,” said the professor severe- 
ly, “do you mean to insinuate that I can’t kill 
anything hut cripples'?” 

“No— 0,” replied Tom, slightly abashed; “I 
thought maybe it just happened that way.” 

“Never mind what you thought, sir,” re- 
torted the professor sternly. “You are not sup- 
posed to be old enough to think much.” 

He then continued : 

“I see before me a single specimen of the 
king of all ducks, the Aythya vallisneria, or 
canvasback. Like some people, it hasn’t ballast 
enough for its reputation, and consequently is a 
little top heavy. I have seen this bird when it 
was the equal of a mallard in flavor. Then 
again I have eaten it when a sawbill feeding on 


272 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


decayed minnows was a piece of jelly cake in 
comparison. By the way, Thomas, you might 
get me a small piece of cake. Talking makes 
me hungry. ’ ’ 

A few moments later the professor cut a cres- 
cent out of a slice of cake and continued : 

^^This bird can fly swifter and dive farther 
than any other duck that floats. Observe the 
long, slim, loon-like shape of the head. The bill 
starts from the top of the head and runs to a 
point like a wedge. I suspect somebody ate one 
of these birds once when it had fattened on cel- 
ery, and got mashed on the flavor. Consequently 
people think every canvasback tastes the same 
way, but they do not., When it feeds on ordi- 
nary truck like other ducks it is no better than 
others. 

notice in this lot of birds another duck 
that resembles the canvasback greatly; name- 
ly, the Aythya americana, or redhead. In fact 
many people cannot tell the difference, but the 
telltale bill and head give it away. Observe the 
head is more chunky, and the bill is scooped 
out on top like a turned up nose. Then the bill 
of this duck is blue while that of the canvas- 
back is black. We kill many of these ducks on 
the Mississippi in the spriqg, but very few in 
the fall. 

now come to a duck, my little friends, that 
I contemplate with feelings of deep emotion. 
I refer to the Charitonetta albeola, or buffle- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 273 


head. I am free to say that this little, insig- 
nificant bird caused me more trouble and vex- 
ation of spirit, in trying to kill it entirely dead, 
than any duck in the country. I found no diffi- 
culty in knocking it down and half killing it, but 
the little rascal would always get up and fly 
away just before I could get my hands on him. 
However, one of his numerous names is ‘ spirit- 
duck,’ so that may account for it. It is three- 
fourths feathers, and the balance cast iron, or 
something equally tough. It is variously known 
as spirit-duck, butterball, conjuring-duck, dip- 
per, butter-duck, woolhead, and so forth. Its 
edible qualities are better than a rat but not as 
good as a ferret. 

^^Does any one know who killed this duck?” 
the professor inquired, lifting a fowl from the 
bunch in which it was tied. 

did,” announced Tom, raising his hand 
with considerable pride. 

^^You made a valuable kill, Thomas.” 

The afore-mentioned Thomas at once grew 
several inches. 

“A very valuable kill,” mused the professor. 

^ ^ My friends, I will first touch on the edible qual- 
ities of the bird. It has no edible qualities. The 
meat somewhat resembles rank bull beef 
stretched tight over a clothes-horse.” Tom 
shrank a little in size. ''In fact I doubt very 
much if the Almighty intended it for food, and 
the probabilities are it was not in the ark.” 


274 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


^‘What is itU’ inquired the audience with 
considerable curiosity. 

‘‘It is the Clangula hy emails, commonly called 
old-squaw, south-southerly, long-tailed duck, 
and many other names. ’ ^ 

“No wonder it isn’t fit to eat with all them 
names,” muttered Tom. 

“Thank goodness,” the professor continued, 
“very few of these ducks come this way, so we 
are spared the tribulation of trying to eat them. 

“Here is another duck,” stopping long 
enough to swallow the last bite of cake, “that 
is not very common here in the fall. I refer to 
the Glaucionetta clangula americana, or golden 
eye.” 

“For Lord’s sake, let up till I get my jaw 
back in place, ’ ’ groaned Tom with a grimace. 

“This duck has many names, among them 
being whistler, brasseye, whistlewing, bullhead, 
ironhead, and whiffler. It also cuts a poor fig- 
ure at the table, especially if served up in com- 
pany with the mallard, teal, or woodduck. 

“Ah, my little friends, we have something 
here worth talking about,” and professor Dick 
triumphantly held up a brown bird. “You will 
pardon me, I know, if I exhibit some emotion 
over this beautiful creature. ’ ’ 

A faint groan from Thad’s direction. 

“This bird, my children, is the Philohela 
minor, or American woodcock. If not the king 
of game-birds, it is a close second. In regard 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 275 


to its edible qualities, it is simply angel food. 
J nst melts in the mouth like a juicy, tender, por- 
terhouse steak. It is found in low, damp swales 
in the woods, and as it goes whizzing through 
the dense brush, taxes the skill of the shooter 
to the utmost. 

While I am discussing this bird, I will re- 
late how a young friend of mine killed his first 
woodcock. ’ ’ 

Here Thad spoke up hastily: 

wish to be excused, please. I have a se- 
vere case of the colic, and he disappeared 
around the corner of the Greased Lightning in- 
stanter. 

^ ‘ Excuse me, please. I have the botts awful, ^ ’ 
cried Tom, as he shinned away. 

‘‘I fear I am threatened with appendicitis, 
teacher. I must go and stand on my head a few 
minutes, ^ ’ said Frank, trying to hold himself to- 
gether long enough to get around the corner. 

Then Dick heard a yell of laughter that 
frightened a flock of geese four miles high. 
When he got around the corner to the other 
side, he found all three boys climbing into the 
skiffs and casting off the painters. 

‘‘Hold on,’’ he yelled, “I’ll quit.” 

“Not till you swear to it,” called Tom. 

“I’ll do anything. Only don’t desert the 
ship, ’ ’ said Dick when he could get his voice to- 
gether. 

Then the boys came back. 


276 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

‘ ‘ Don T yon ever try to spring that old chest- 
nut again, young fellow,’’ warned Thad, as he 
fastened the skiff. 

^‘All right. I’ll he good. I didn’t suppose 
you fellows would take it to heart so,” said 
Dick meekly. 

^‘Even a worm will turn if you step on him 
often enough, ’ ’ said Tom. 

“The joke of it is I never heard this wood- 
cock story,” laughed Frank. 

“You didn’t?” asked Thad in amazement. 

“Never.” 

Then Thad told the story of Dick’s first wood- 
cock exploit, and how he had bragged about it 
ever since.* Of course he embellished the yarn 
considerably, and had the boys laughing until 
the woods rang. 

“The moral to that story is, don’t get the 
swell head because you make a scratch shot,” 
remarked Tom. 

“Say, Dick,” said Frank, “you didn’t tell us 
what a jack-snipe is.” 

^^Scolopax wilsoni/^ replied Dick. “I was 
just coming to that when you fellows all started 
for the hospital.” 

“While I think of it, Dick, has a measly, old 
mud-hen got a high-toned name, too?” asked 
Tom. 

‘ ^ Certainly. They are Fulica americana. ’ ’ 

“It ought to be darned foolica Americana,” 
laughed Tom. 

*See “The Boy Duck Hunters,” page 6o. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 277 

don’t see how yon keep all those names in 
your head, Dick, ’ ’ said Frank. 

^‘How do you keep the multiplication table in 
your head?” asked Dick. 

^ ‘ Why, I learned it of course, ’ ’ replied Frank 
laughing. 

‘^And I learned these names the same way, 
by committing them to memory. A person can 
memorize anything in which he takes an in- 
terest. ’ ’ 

^ ^ Town ho ! ” shouted the lookout. 

Where away?” 

<< Three points to the sta’hard of that flock 
of blackbirds.” 

The Commodore took the glass. ‘Mt is a 
town sure. And right around the bend close to 
us. All hands get to sacking game. ’ ’ 

In anticipation of some such event, the hoys 
had brought along a number of gunny-sacks. 
The game was quickly packed in these, tagged 
to a well-known commission firm in Chicago, 
with a letter of instruction to remit to Mr. 
Kingston at home. Thad hastily scratched a 
note to his father in explanation, Dick added a 
postscript to his mother, and they were ready. 

In a short time the Greased Lightning swung 
along shore and Thad and Tom ran up town to 
find the express office. Fortunately they found 
the delivery wagon at the office, and quickly re- 
turned perched on the seat with the driver. The 
game was loaded in, receipts taken, and they 
were free to go. 


278 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Thad was just giving orders to weigh anchor, 
when Dick cried out : 

“For Heaven’s sake, stop. ^Hold her nozzle 
agin the bank’ a minute; we have forgotten 
something. ’ ’ 

“What’s up now!” inquired the Commodore. 

“Buckwheat flour. Come on, Tom.” 

‘ ^ Depend on that boy to remember something 
to eat, ’ ’ laughed Thad, as Tom and Dick started 
up town. 

“They found it all right,” grinned Frank a 
few minutes later, as Tom and Dick appeared in 
sight, each with a sack on his shoulder. 

“There, put to sea with your old tub when- 
ever you are ready. We can defy fate and the 
elements now with two sacks of old-fashioned 
country buckwheat flour,” said Dick in heart- 
felt tones, as he deposited his burden on the 
cabin floor. 

‘ ‘ How do you know it is genuine! ’ ’ said Thad, 
as the Greased Lightning slowly swung out in 
the river. 

‘ ‘ How do I know, you goose ! Didn ’t the man 
say it was genuine ! ’ ’ replied Dick scornfully. 

This was said with such sublime simplicity 
that Thad, Tom, and Frank laughed outright. 

When Thad found his voice he said : 

“You little innocent, couldn’t the man lie to 
you!” 

“I never thought of that,” confessed Dick. 
“Seems to me you are getting blamed suspi- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 279 

cious,’’ he added. ^^Does everybody get suspi- 
cious as they grow up U ^ 

guess so,’^ replied Thad; ‘^only grown 
people don’t call it suspicion; they call it ‘busi- 
ness principles.’ ” 

“Why didn’t you get some sausage, Dick?” 
inquired Frank. 

‘ ‘ Oh, we can worry along on snipe, duck, and 
quail, I guess; to say nothing of bacon, ham, 
squirrels, and other kinds of meat,” replied 
Dick, as he went in to examine his buckwheat 
flour. 


CHAPTEE XV. 


TKAPPING AGAIN. HOME. 

The sun was sinking when the Greased Light- 
ning tied up for the night some miles below the 
town where the boys had shipped their game. 

The haze of a glorious Indian summer eve- 
ning hung over the landscape like a purple veil 
through which the sun shone with a softened 
light, a huge globe of gold. 

When the hoys landed supper was ready. 
After getting outside of the usual amount of 
provender, the usual bout at chess was in or- 
der in which Frank won a signal victory over 
Dick, after an hour and a half ^s able maneuver- 
ing. 

can stand it. I am three games ahead of 
you still, said Dick with a yawn, as he arose 
from the board and walked over to the other 
game. 

‘^How are you fixed, Tom; got him about 
sewed up ? ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 281 


^‘No, I’m afraid it’s the other way. He is 
driving me hard,” replied Tom with knitted 
brows. 

Thad grinned triumphantly. think yon 
will capitulate shortly, Thomas.” 

Dick studied the game intently a few moments 
and said: ‘‘I can win that game for Tom in a 
jitfy, if you want me to. ” 

‘‘If you can win that game for Tom, go 
ahead,” said Thad defiantly. 

“Do you see it, Frank?” asked Dick, turning 
to the former. 

“I must confess I don’t,” replied Frank, who 
had been looking the game over also. 

“Go ahead, Mr. Paul Murphy, and show us,” 
said Thad ironically. 

‘ ‘ Take my seat and play it out, Dick. Blamed 
if I can see what you mean,” said Tom, arising. 

Dick took the chair and after looking over the 
board again to he sure he was making no mis- 
take, boldly sacrificed his rook and bishop for 
two pawns that had been a thorn in Tom’s side, 
by blocking his maneuvers. 

“Playing give-a-way?” said Thad listlessly, 
as he picked off the men. 

“Yes; check. Your queen is in danger also,” 
replied Dick coolly, leaning back in his chair. 
He had double-checked Thad’s king and queen 
with the knight. 

“Whew! That looks stormy. There was 
some method in the boy’s madness after all,” 
said Thad, looking concerned. 


282 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Yon never can recover from that blow. Dick 
can gallop his queen over the board at his lei- 
sure and clean up your pawns while he harasses 
you by checking/^ remarked Frank, after re- 
viewing the situation. 

“I think that diagnosis is correct, therefore 
black resigns, ’ ’ said Thad, arising with a yawn 
and stretching himself to the limit. 

‘ ‘ I won T count that game against you, Thad, 
for I was beaten if Dick hadn’t seen that coup 
d’etat/^ Tom observed consolingly. 

^ ‘ Count it if you want to, ’ ’ Thad replied good- 
naturedly, as he prepared for bed. 

That was one characteristic possessed by 
Thad, and in fact by all four boys, that did much 
toward making their voyage a trip of unalloyed 
pleasure. Petty annoyances, such as being 
beaten at chess or any other game ; killing a less 
number of birds; being the butt of a harmless 
joke; and a dozen other trivial things that are 
liable to spring up in camp life, were passed 
over in good humor. 

It is a trait of character worthy of emulation, 
especially by people thrown into close compan- 
ionship for a brief time out in the woods. Let 
there be no sulking; no bickering over trivial 
things ; no heart burning or jealousies as to who 
kills the most game or catches the greater num- 
ber of fish ; no brooding over fancied slights, nor 
shirking of duties; no continual goading of a 
companion who makes some slight mistake. If 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 283 


there is, good-bye to the pleasure in that crowd. 
One person of a discordant disposition can keep 
a whole company irritated, and make a trip for 
pleasure a complete and absolute failure. 

‘^Did you forget those buckwheat cakes, 
Dick?’’ called Frank from the bedroom. 

^‘Not much,” was the reply; ‘‘the yeast cake 
has been soaking for an hour. I am just going 
to mix them, ’ ’ and Dick was soon pounding and 
thumping buckwheat hatter with a vim. 

“It beats all how this weather holds on,” re- 
marked Thad next morning, as he looked out 
and saw the promise of another hazy, quiet day. 

‘ ‘ It beats all how those buckwheat cakes came 
up, too,” said Dick, who had slipped out of bed 
in his nighty to take a peep at the cakes. 

“That’s so. Buckwheat cakes and maple 
syrup, Tom, ’ ’ cried Frank, springing out of bed 
with unusual alacrity. “And ham and eggs,” 
supplemented Tom, following after. 

“I thought I could start you fellows,” said 
Dick with a grin, as he began dressing. 

Ere long the savory odor of frying ham was 
in the air, and the hoys were passing out and in 
to get a whiff of fresh morning air and then 
to toast their hacks at the fire, for there was just 
chill enough in the air to make a fire feel deli- 
cious. 

“Do you suppose this syrup is genuine?” 
asked Tom, as he poured a thick veneer of ma- 
ple syrup over a couple of hot buckwheats. 


284 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


think it is/' replied Thad gravely. ‘‘It 
came wrapped in a Vermont newspaper and, 
according to Dick, that insures its genuine- 
ness." 

‘^Now, smarty. I guess I'm not quite a fool 
if I don't suspect everybody," said Dick, turn- 
ing up his nose. 

^‘Say, lads, it would be middling juicy if we 
could strike a bee-tree, ' ' remarked Tom. 

‘‘Don't mention it," groaned Dick. “And 
not one of us knows a thing about finding 
them. ' ' 

“I believe I could find one," said Tom. “I 
have been with bee hunters several times. ' ' 

‘ ‘ If you wish the esteem of this company, find 
us a bee-tree, ' ' said Dick, putting another batch 
of buckwheats on the griddle. 

“All right. I'll tackle it at the next camp- 
ing place, ' ' said Tom. 

All day the boys floated with the current, 
loafing, chatting, dodging sandbars and snags, 
getting occasional shots at ducks and geese, and 
filling in the time shooting with the rifles. At 
sundown they had tied up to the bank, and con- 
tinued their journey next day. 

At the close of the second day they arrived at 
another favorable-looking spot where the blutfs 
dropped away from the river. A heavy forest 
covered the lowland, giving promise of hidden 
lakes and ponds. A narrow run with very lit- 
tle current emptied into the Mississippi, into 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 285 

which the Greased Lightning was poled out of 
the way of winds and waves. 

When everything had been made fast, Thad 
and Tom shouldered their guns, and calling 
Brnno, started up the run to get the lay of the 
land, which they found soon opened out into a 
lake or slough lined with rushes. 

The boys had barely arrived at the mouth 
when four mallards sprang up with vociferous 
quacks and a great fluttering of wings. The 
guns came up like a flash, four reports followed 
and three of the ducks dropped hack into the 
water. 

^‘Pretty good beginning,’’ said Thad with a 
smile, as Bruno retrieved the birds. 

^‘Yes. It looks as though we wouldn’t starve 
here anyhow. ’ ’ 

They followed the slough several hundred 
yards, noting numerous muskrat-houses and 
runs, and routing out a number of ducks. 

As the hour was getting late, they retraced 
their steps and returned to camp with seven 
mallards. 

Dick and Frank had busied themselves pre- 
paring supper, which was almost ready when 
Thad and Tom came in. 

‘^More ducks, eh? What did you see?” said 
Dick, peering over from the stove. 

‘‘This run widens out into a rice lake that is 
a lovely place to jump mallards,” replied Thad, 
putting away his gun and doffing his hunting 
coat. 


286 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘And it^s full of rat-houses, too,’^ added Tom. 

“Didn't find a bee-tree, Tom?" from Frank. 

“Not yet, my child. They won't be ripe un- 
til to-morrow." 

After supper it was planned that Thad and 
Frank should take the traps in a skiff, go up the 
run out in the lake and set them on the rat- 
houses, while Tom and Dick were to look for 
hee-trees. 

This program was carried out. In the morn- 
ing Tom and Dick with ax, pail, compass, and so 
forth, struck out through the woods on their 
quest for hidden sweets, and Thad and Frank 
went up the run with the traps. 

Bruno was left to do guard duty at home. 

Thad and Frank set traps along the run and 
out in the lake, following the latter to the end 
about half a mile. Numbers of ducks were feed- 
ing alongshore in the rice, and Thad killed 
three, although being busy setting the traps they 
made no effort to hunt. About noon they re- 
turned to the houseboat, well satisfied with the 
morning's work. 

Bruno was dozing in the sun, but Tom and 
Dick had not returned. 

“We may as well start dinner, the hoys will 
be hungry as bears," remarked Thad. 

Dinner was prepared and one o'clock came, 
but no boys. About two-thirty, just as they be- 
gan to get uneasy, the sound of voices was heard 
and the bee hunters hove in sight. Thad and 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 287 


Frank felt much relieved, but what particularly 
canght their eyes and sent their hats in the air 
with a shout of joy was a pail carried between 
the boys on a pole, heaped high with delicious- 
looking honey. 

“Hurrah for the bee hunters shouted 
Frank. 

“You fellows are trumps. I had no more 
idea you would find a bee-tree than you would 
a gold mine ; Tom must be a scientific bee hunt- 
er,’’ said Thad, as the boys came on board and 
eased down their burden of flaky sweetness. 

Dick dropped into a chair and said : 

“You bet. Tom is all right. I tell you, boys, 
there is nothing like science. It’s the greatest 
thing that ever came over the pike; especially 
bee science.” And Dick went otf into a par- 
oxysm of laughter that continued until he fell 
off the chair. 

Tom’s face reddened as he watched Dick 
nearly expiring with laughter, but his good na- 
ture predominated and he also burst out laugh- 
ing. Thad and Frank gazed on this little drama 
in amazement. 

‘ ^ What the deuce is the matter with you two 
fellows; did you buy this honey somewhere!” 
asked Thad in a bewildered way. 

‘ “Not much. We found a bee-tree and there 
is another pail of honey in it, yet, ’ ’ replied Dick, 
getting on his feet and straightening his face. 

“Something is up. Tell us about it,” said 


288 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Frank, whose curiosity was aroused by Dick^s 
peculiar actions. 

‘‘I’ll tell you nothing until we get something 
to eat. I ’m hungry enough to eat a loon ; and, 
Gee ! but I ’m tired. ’ ’ 

“Come in and fill up then; there is plenty 
left,” said Frank, leading the way into the 
cabin. 

Tom and Dick proceeded to clear off the re- 
mainder of the dinner while Thad and Frank 
waited to hear about their trip. 

“Now, Dick, tell us how you found the 
honey. ’ ’ 

Dick rubbed his stomach contentedly and said : 
‘ ‘ Why, you see we started out through the woods 
and after a bit Tom began to look around wise 
and mysterious-like.” 

“Don’t get in any fancy curly-cues now, it is 
bad enough, ’ ’ broke in Tom. 

“Then he began to catch bees and fill them 
full of glucose. After he had filled up about a 
peck of bees on syrup he made a few passes with 
his hands and started off through the woods on 
a dog trot.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, let up, ’ ’ cried Tom, trying to keep from 
laughing. 

“He ran about four miles and then stopped 
and looked around solemn as an owl, and said 
we were right close to a bee-tree. We examined 
every tree on the quarter section, but couldn’t 
find a sign of a bee. Then Tom commenced 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 289 

liis monkey-shines with bees again. After we 
had chased imaginary bee-trees until I was 
played out, he gave it up in disgust and owned 
he couldn’t find a bee-tree in a month. Then we 
started back to camp and about half way here 
we ran plump into a bee-tree accidentally. Just 
happened to see them going in and out of the 
hole about twenty feet from the ground. There 
we have been ever since, cutting down the tree 
and getting the honey. Tom is just the right 
kind of a fellow to write a book about bee-trees, 
because he doesn ’t know anything about it. ’ ’ 

Tom looked as though he was half vexed yet 
half enjoyed Dick’s story, and when the latter 
had finished, said with a grin : 

‘^Blamed if that isn’t right. We looked all 
over the whole bottoms without finding anything 
and then stumbled onto one as we were coming 
home. ’ ’ 

Never mind. All’s well that ends well,” re- 
marked Thad consolingly. 

Soon after Tom had finished his dinner, he ac- 
companied Thad and Frank back to the tree and 
they brought in the*remainder of the honey. 

^‘Now we won’t have to depend on imitation 
maple syrup for our cakes,” said Dick with a 
satisfied air, when the honey had been stored 
away. 

‘‘You had better telegraph home to have a 
barrel of sulphur ready, for you are liable to 
have a well developed case of buckwheat itch by 
the time you get there,” said Thad. 


290 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Guess I won’t have it any worse than the 
rest of you,” replied Dick. 

The boys now settled down to trapping, fish- 
ing, gathering nuts, and hunting in earnest ; and 
a week of quiet contentment glided by. 

October, the month of peaceful Indian sum- 
mer-time is the most delightful period of the 
year to be in the woods. Those little insect 
pests of camp life having been killed by the 
sharp frosts, no longer annoy campers. Nature, 
wrapped in the brilliant drapery of autumn, has 
then fallen into a peaceful lethargy, and the soft 
autumnal zephyrs, whispering through the scar- 
let leaves, sing the requiem of golden summer- 
time now past and gone. The crisp, cool air 
charged with the health-giving ozone, sends the 
blood bounding through the veins with increased 
vigor. The chattering squirrel stores his winter 
home with nuts against the icy blasts of winter ; 
and the wildfowl flutter in the lakes and marshes 
on their way to the sunny South. 

No wonder our young voyagers saw with re- 
gret the halcyon days glide by, although every 
moment was thoroughly enjoyed. They had 
been favored with an unusually long period of 
fine weather, but even pleasant weather must 
have an end, and one morning the boys awoke 
to find a drizzling rain and lowering skies. 

After breakfast, Thad, who was a close ob- 
server of the weather, remarked with a shake 
of the head : 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 291 


^‘Boys, I donT like the looks of this. I say, 
take up the traps to-day if it is drizzling. It is 
getting late in the season and the weather is 
liable to whew around any time now and freeze 
our traps up tight as Davy Jones’ locker. Then 
we would have a nice time chopping them out 
for they are nearly all in the water. ’ ’ 

‘^Thad’s head is horizontal on that proposi- 
tion, and I second the motion,” said Tom. 

In three hours every trap was in the Greased 
Lightning. 

^‘Now let her get cold,” said Thad in a satis- 
fied tone, as they toasted their shins by the cozy 
‘fire. 

‘‘We don’t want to get frozen in here,” said 
Dick. 

“Not much danger of that, it is too early,” 
replied Tom. “But it isn’t too early to freeze 
up the lakes and ponds. ’ ’ 

Thad proved a reliable weather prophet, for 
the next morning a chill northeast wind was 
shrieking and howling through the forest, and 
the once blue sky was blanketed with cold-look- 
ing, gray clouds that went scudding through the 
air. 

“Who says Thad isn’t a weather prophet?” 
said Frank, peeping out of the window, while 
Tom hurriedly dressed in the raw air. 

“Thad is all right as ‘Old Probs,’ ” and Tom 
hustled around to get the fire started. 

“Gee, this fire isn’t slow,” shivered Dick, as 


292 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


he hastily slid into part of his clothes and 
hugged the stovepipe. 

^‘This will be a famous morning for buck- 
wheats, Dick,^’ called Frank. 

^‘That^s what. And the batter will never 
hold out either. That^s what is bothering me,” 
and Dick glanced apprehensively over to the 
buckwheat crock. 

^ ‘ Ducks, ducks, everywhere ! See them go ! ” 
cried Thad from the window. Thad was right. 
The ducks were going, and rapidly, too. High 
in the air and low over the water, big flocks and 
little flocks swept along before the blast with all 
the speed in their powerful wings. 

^‘That lake where we had the traps will be a 
hummer to-day, I ’ll bet, ’ ’ said Dick, craning his 
neck to look out over the river. 

^ ‘ It probably will, as it is sheltered and plenty 
of feed there, ’ ’ replied Tom. 

‘ ^ I suppose we could load this boat with ducks 
and geese if we wished,” said Thad, ^^but the 
question is, do we want to ? ” 

^‘We certainly don’t want to kill any more 
than we can use, ’ ’ Tom replied. 

‘ ‘ Of course we could ship them as we did the 
other day, but I dislike the idea of turning 
market hunter. We did that the last time just 
so we could all have one good shoot, ’ ’ said Thad, 
coming back to the fire. 

‘ ^ I think that is a sensible view of the matter, ’ ’ 
said Tom thoughtfully. ‘‘Ducks are becoming 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 293 

scarcer every year, and the fewer we kill the 
more there will be left for next year.’’ 

‘H’m agreeable. I’m not anxious to get out 
in this cold storm, ’ ’ said Frank, laughing. 

‘‘Of course we will kill a few, but not any 
more than we can use, ’ ’ said Thad, burying his 
face in a wash basin of cold water. 

“I will deliver my opinion after breakfast,” 
quoth Dick. 

‘ ‘ Of course there will be a little self-denial in 
it for all of us, as we are all very fond of shoot- 
ing, but I don’t think one of us will ever regret 
that he refrained from killing a great lot of 
ducks that he couldn’t use,” said Thad, seating 
himself by the stove. 

We regret that the boys failed to keep a rec- 
ord of the number of buckwheat cakes eaten that 
morning, as we are satisfied it would have 
broken the record for all time to come. 

After breakfast they donned extra warm 
clothing and walked up the run to the lake. 

They could plainly hear mallards quacking 
and screaming through the timber before reach- 
ing their destination. 

‘ ‘ A dozen and a half is our limit now remem- 
ber, boys, ’ ’ said Thad as they neared the lake. 

As the ducks were swarming and the number 
to be killed limited, all four agreed to remain 
together so Bruno could do the retrieving. 
Stationing themselves in some low willows at 
the head of the lake where the ducks swept down 


294 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 

from the north or circled back from the south, 
they were ready. 

‘‘Now let’s take turns shooting first. After 
the first man shoots, everybody bang away to 
suit himself, ’ ’ said Thad. 

“All right. The Commodore shoots first,” 
replied Tom. 

“Here come four,” whispered Dick, and two 
pairs of greenheads swept chattering by from 
the north. 

Thad killed one with each barrel, and at the 
report a roar of wings was heard and the air 
was filled with screaming, quacking mallards 
arising from the lake below. 

“Here come six from the south; give Frank 
a show. ’ ’ 

The big handsome birds came fluttering along 
slowly. “Don’t lose your nerve, Frank,” 
warned Dick. 

Frank replied by smashing a bird with each 
barrel, and as they climbed frantically toward 
the clouds, Dick and Tom each dropped another. 
The ducks were soon swarming back to the 
sheltered lake and the four guns boomed and 
banged away steadily, keeping Bruno busy 
piling up the mallards. 

In a. very short time Thad counted up sixteen, 
most of them three pounders. He looked up to 
tell the boys to go slow, when there came a bang- 
ing and cracking like a salvo of artillery and 
three more ducks dropped almost at his feet. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 295 


^‘Hold yelled Thad. ^^Shut off steam 
and stop the machine, we are one over the limit 
now. ^ ’ 

‘‘Get ns away from here or we will be a lot 
more over the limit, ’ ’ cried Dick, in whose veins 
the fever of shooting was running high. 

“Let’s take the shells out of our guns or we 
can never stay bottled up with this mess of 
tomato preserves around us,” said Tom with a 
laugh, suiting the action to the word. 

“It is tough, boys, I know, but they will 
keep,” laughed Thad, as they stood a few mo- 
ments watching the swarms of mallards grace- 
fully circling and dropping with bowed wings 
in the lake. 

“Come on, let’s get out of here or I’ll be 
throwing clubs at them in a minute, ’ ’ said Dick 
in disgust, picking up some of the ducks. 

The rest of the day and the day following, the 
boys remained indoors most of the time, play- 
ing chess, reading, cracking nuts, and indulging 
in other amusements ; while the tempest roared 
through the forest and lashed the river to foam. 

The third morning the sun rose on a calm and 
peaceful world. There was nothing to indicate 
that the elements had been on a two days ’ spree, 
howling and tearing over the earth in a drunken 
frenzy. A few cakes of skim ice drifted along, 
the vanguard of the mighty masses to come 
later. 

Our young voyagers decided to start for 


296 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPL 

home, not caring to risk being canght in the 
heavy ice, and by ten 0 ’clock the Greased Light- 
ning was out on the Mississippi and on her way 
South once more. LYTong in the afternoon as 
they sat out on deck in the pleasant sunshine, 
Thad suddenly turned to Tom and said : 

^^How would you like to wear diamonds, 
Tom?”* 

‘‘Ask me something easy, for I never even 
saw any,” replied Tom indifferently. 

“Well, pull yourself together and hang on to 
the safety-valve for I am going to spring some- 
thing on you. ’ ’ 

“What’s up now?” said Tom, a strange, half- 
longing look coming into his eyes at Thad’s 
words, while Frank looked interested. 

Then Thad told them the dead outlaw’s story 
of the cave and the buried treasure, and showed 
them the rude drawing of the bluffs and location 
of the cavern. He told Tom and Frank that he 
and Dick were going to share the diamonds with 
them if they could he found. 

“It is square and kind in you and -Dick to 
even share the diamonds, but I don ’t suppose we 
will find them; it would be too good luck,” said 
Tom with a wistful look. 

“Don’t worry about that; the gold was found 
a good while ago,” said Thad quietly. • 

“The devil it was,” and Tom leaped four feet 
straight in the air and then sank back in his 
chair and gazed stupidly at Thad in a bewil- 
dered way, while Frank looked at the usually 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 297 


level-headed boy as though he thought the latter 
had taken leave of his senses. 

^‘Who found itU^ Tom finally found voice to 
say. 

^ ^ Dick and I. Do you remember that cave we 
discovered a couple of years ago 1 ^ 

^ ^ Of course. I have been in it lots of times. 
Is that the place U’ 

‘‘Yes. We found the gold but that was all.” 

“How much gold was there?” asked Frank 
curiously. 

“How much was it, Dick?” said Thad, turn- 
ing to the former. 

“Fifteen thousand five hundred and twenty 
dollars, ’ ’ replied Dick promptly. 

‘ ‘ For the love of Peter ! ’ ’ gasped Tom. ‘ ‘ Fif- 
teen thou— well, I dl he darned ! Say, ’ ’ he added 
“you fellows watch for sandbars, I couldnT tell 
a sandbar from Mt. Ararat; I’m too flustered.” 

“How do you like it. Tommy?” said Dick 
gleefully. 

“I don’t know, Dick. I’m all knocked out. I 
wanted to go to college with you fellows so bad 
I could taste it, and now maybe there is a little 
show. I knew my father couldn’t afford to send 
me.” 

“I know it, Tom, and that is one reason why 
I wanted to divide with you instead of keeping 
it all ourselves,” said Thad, laying his hand 
kindly on his comrade ’s shoulder. 

The look of gratitude that Tom gave Thad 
through the moisture in his eyes made the latter 


298 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


feel richer than if he had possessed a cave full 
of diamonds. 

Frank Howard arose and stretched out his 
hand impulsively. ‘^Thad Kingston, if ever a 
generous soul lived on earth it is you. I hate to 
say it to your face, but IVe got to. Not one in 
a thousand would have done such a thing when 
you could have kept it all. ^ ’ 

Thad crimsoned to the roots of his hair. ‘ ‘ Oh, 
pshaw, Frank ! Dick is just as deep in it as I 
am.’’ 

don’t doubt it. He is split otf the same 
block,” said Tom, looking gratefully at his 
chubby partner. 

^‘Now, boys,” said Thad, wishing to change 
the conversation, ‘^we must keep this thing mum, 
and just as soon as we get home, go down to our 
house, get a pick and shovel, and investigate 
things. ’ ’ 

Four happy boys floated down the Mississippi 
after that episode. They were happy before, 
but now they were jubilantly happy. Tom in- 
sisted on doing the cooking and dish washing. 
If there was a sweep to pull, he was the first man 
there. In fact, he wanted to do everything, to 
show his appreciation of the boys’ kindness to- 
ward him. 

The remainder of the voyage was uneventful, 
and one fine Saturday morning about ten 
o’clock, the houseboat grated on the sand at the 
little village of T— . The trip of the Greased 
Lightning was ended. 


CHAPTER XVL 


THE BUEIED DIAMONDS. 

^^Home again,’’ shouted Dick, springing 
ashore with the line. 

^^Why are you so tickled to get back?” asked 
Tom with a mischievous wink at Thad and 
Frank. 

Dick saw the wink, and retorted : ^ ^ Oh, come 

now. You ’re barking up the wrong tree ; it isn ’t 
what you think at all. I want to hug my old 
mammy, if you want to know; and I’m not 
ashamed of it either. She is better than dia- 
monds.” 

‘ ‘ That ’s right, Dick. I only wish my mother 
were as near as yours, ’ ’ Frank remarked. 

^^What shall we do with our duffle ; lock it 
up?” Tom asked. 

^^For the present, yes,” replied Thad sig- 
nificantly. ‘‘Let’s go right to our house ; we can 
save our truck later. ’ ’ 


300 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘^Boys, I can say truthfully, that was the j oi- 
liest and pleasantest trip I ever took in my life, ’ ’ 
said Frank heartily, as they walked up the bank. 

‘‘It was a splendid trip, and I guess we all 
enjoyed it hugely; I know I did,’^ replied Thad. 

“We take a trip to Europe or some other 
country nearly every summer, ’ ^ Frank went on ; 
“but I have had more solid fun and comfort on 
this outing than I ever had before. ’ ’ 

“It 'must be awful nice to be rich and buy 
what you want and go where you please,’’ 
sighed Dick. 

“I don’t think you and Thad have any reason 
to complain after finding such a big lot of 
money,” said Tom. 

“No, I suppose not,” admitted Dick, “but we 
must use part of that to get an education. ’ ’ 

“You ought to be thankful you have it to 
use.” 

“We are,” Thad chipped in, “and if the dia- 
monds are there, you will have some for the 
same purpose.” 

“Maybe we can’t sell them for much if any- 
thing, if we find them,” said Tom doubtfully; 
his ideas in regard to the use and value of dia- 
monds not being very clear. 

“Don’t you worry about that part of it,” 
laughed Frank. “If they are genuine, we can 
sell them fast enough in New York.” 

“Did the man say how much they were 
worth?” asked Tom. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 301 

^‘No, but he said there were thousands of dol- 
lars worth. ’ ^ 

Maybe they are spoiled,’^ ventured Tom, 
who seemed to fear that his fortune would slip 
away somehow. 

At this remark Frank laughed immoderately. 
^ ‘ Why, Tom, they dig them out of the dirt and 
clay where they have lain for ages, and they are 
bright as new dollars when found.’’ 

This bit of information brightened Tom up 
wonderfully and the only cloud now was, had the 
jewels been discovered by some one else? You 
may be sure no grass grew under the boys’ feet 
and the mile walk was covered in a very short 
time. 

^^Here is the house and barn and woodshed, 
anyhow,” cried Dick. Bruno, do you know 
where you are ? ’ ’ 

Bruno evidently did, for he bounded up the 
walk ahead of the boys and stood waiting at 
the door, his. tail waving and his eyes shining 
with delight. 

‘^Dinner for four,” cried Thad, as they filed 
into the house. 

Mr. Kingston sat writing at his desk, and Mrs. 
Kingston was sewing in a low rocking-chair by 
the opposite window. 

‘‘Well, well. If here aren’t our hunters back 
again safe and sound,” cried Mr. Kingston joy- 
fully, as he arose and extended both hands. Dick 
dashed past the others, and a second later had 
his mother clasped in a bear-like hug. 


302 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘There, let up, Dick, and give me a show,’^ 
laughed Thad after shaking hands with his 
father, walking over and interrupting the hug- 
ging and kissing bee by slipping his arm around 
Mrs. Kingston and giving her a fervent smack. 

“Dear me, Thad. You are tanned dark as an 
Indian, ’ ’ and the handsome little woman looked 
up at her tall, bronzed, stalwart son standing 
there the picture of health, with a world of pride 
and affection in her eyes. 

“That^s because it was smoky, Indian-sum- 
mer weather, ’ ’ put in Dick. 

“You fellows all look hearty enough for prize- 
fighters, ^ ’ observed Mr. Kingston admiringly. 

“We are, part of us,’^ laughed Dick, giving 
Frank a sly poke in the ribs. 

“We are here on business, papa,’^ announced 
Thad after the greetings were over and they had 
settled down. 

“Here on business F’ echoed his father in as- 
tonishment, “ haven T you come home to stayU’ 

“Yes, but business before pleasure, you 
know,’’ replied Thad, enjoying his father’s mys- 
tified look. 

“You speak in riddles, my boy,” said Mr. 
Kingston in a perplexed way. 

“We made a discovery while we were gone.” 

“Well, of what nature?” 

“Do you remember the cave incident; the 
finding of seven stone mugs and only six skele- 
tons ? ’ ’ 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 303 


‘‘Perfectly/^ a faint light was beginning to 
dawn on Mr. Kingston’s mind. 

‘‘Do you remember I told you and Tbad that 
if we ever found that seventh man he could give 
the history of the cave, if he wanted to P ’ broke 
in the irrepressible Dick. 

“Yes,” replied Mr. Kingston, turning his 
head slowly toward his youngest son. 

“Well, we found him, ” announced Dick in the 
most dramatic tone he could assume. 

“Is it possible!” ejaculated Mr. Kingston in 
astonishment. 

“Found him, and talked to him, and then- 
buried him, ’ ’ Dick went on tragically. 

“This is getting interesting. Thad, suppose 
you tell me what you know about the matter 
without any more beating* about the bush.” 

For the second time Thad told the story that 
he and Dick had listened to from the lips of a 
dying man far away in the Northern forest. 

“Here is a paper with a rough sketch of the 
bluffs and cave, that he gave me just before he 
died/’ concluded Thad. “You see it is pretty 
aqcurate of the bluffs, and the front and rear en- 
trance of the cave correspond almost exactly 
with our cave. ’ ’ 

“I guess there is little doubt it is the same 
cave, ’ ’ said Mr. Kingston after scrutinizing the 
soiled bit of paper. “So this is your business,” 
he added with a smile. 

“Yes, sir. Our business is to find those dia- 


304 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


monds before we eat, drink, or sleep, ^ said Dick, 
arising with unwonted bustling activity. 

^‘Hadn’t you better wait until after dinner, 
Dick ? ^ ’ asked his mother with a demure smile. 

Dick hesitated a moment, looked around at the 
others, and sank back into his chair. sup- 
pose we might eat a bite, first. ’ ’ 

Then everybody roared, and Dick showed 
where his waistband failed to connect by two 
inches. 

Some time after one o ’clock, having disposed 
of a comforting dinner, the treasure hunters, re- 
inforced by Mr. Kingston and armed with picks, 
shovels, crowbars, and lanterns, started for the 
cave. 

As they walked along under the towering 
blutf s, Thad remarked to Frank : 

^‘Here is where Dick and I broke the world’s 
record on a quarter-mile dash, the time we tried 
to steal that hornets’ nest you have heard 
about. ’ ’ 

“And then the hornets won out,” chimed in 
Dick. 

“Yes, they won by a nose after all our hard 
running. ’ ’ 

“If I am any judge, and I think I ought to 
be, they won by a tail,” was the quick rejoinder, 
and everybody laughed at Dick’s pun. 

“I don’t care,” Dick wen!; on. “I don’t see 
how folks expect boys to grow up truthful when 
they keep telling them lies. Just think of filling 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 305 


boys up on the kind of rot that fellow did Thad 
and me about hornets’ nest wadding, when he 
knew we would get the liver stung out of us try- 
ing to get it. ’ ’ 

‘‘Probably he went through the mill in his 
youth and wanted the other boys to get a dose of 
the same medicine, ’ ’ suggested Tom. “You will 
be telling the same story to some boy in ten 
years.” 

“Not much,” Dicli asserted stoutly. '“I’ll 
make it my business to warn every boy I know. ’ ’ 

“Dick is all right on that proposition,” said 
Mr. Kingston. “People set a bad example by 
lying to and deceiving children ; but many do it. 
They seem to think a boy is of no earthly ac- 
count until he is grown. In fact, some people 
say that a boy should be barreled up and fed 
through the bung-hole until he is sixteen. 

“Boys have a mighty hard time of it, take it 
all around, and it’s a wonder they pan out as 
well as they do, ’ ’ observed Dick sagely. 

“Well, Dick, here we are at the cave. If we 
find the jewels you can wear diamonds anyhow, 
that will be some consolation,” said Mr. Kings- 
ton jokingly. 

‘ ‘ Oh, it doesn ’t bother me any. I ’m not a boy 
any more, ’ ’ replied Dick loftily. 

The lantern was lighted and they passed into 
the damp, gloomy cavern. The mouth of the 
cave Hirnished light sufficient for digging pur- 
poses and Thad and Tom took the shovels and 


3o6 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 

began to dig along the south wall, correspond- 
ing, as nearly as they could locate, with a star 
marked on the paper. At the depth of a foot the 
shovels struck rock. 

‘‘Now we are coming to something,^’ cried 
Dick in a suppressed, eager voice. 

The dirt was shoveled away for a space of 
three or four feet along the wall, but no open- 
ing was found. Then Dick and his father took 
the shovels. Several feet more of dirt was 
cleaned oft, but the rock bottom still continued 
and no evidences of a box or bundle were dis- 
covered. There was a dropping of jaws and a 
lengthening of faces as the work of shoveling 
progressed with no success. At length the dirt 
was cleaned away along the entire south wall, 
leaving the bare rock with no sign of an open- 
ing. Four very dejected-looking boys desisted 
from their labors. 

“Is it possible we have been lied toU’ said 
Thad, wiping his brow, the disappointment 
showing plainly in his face. 

“Of course we have, but it^s nothing more 
than we might expect. We have been lied to 
ever since we were born, ’ ^ replied Dick bitterly. 

Mr. Kingston, who had been doing considera- 
ble thinking and figuring, remarked : 

“I hardly think the man would lie to you on 
his deathbed, boys, even were he an outlaw. The 
better explanation, it seems to me, is that others 
of the gang, unbeknown to him, knew of the ex- 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 307 


istence of the treasure here and have taken it 
away long ago. While he thought he was the 
only confidant, the captain may have had 
others. ’ ’ 

‘‘I donT know as it makes any difference 
which way it was; it isn’t here,” said Dick half 
sullenly. 

feel more disappointed on Tom’s account 
than anything else,” said Frank regretfully, as 
his thoughts drifted back to the day Tom dove 
beneath the icy waters of the Mississippi to save 
his comrade’s life. Poor Tom looked the pic- 
ture of utter dejection. Good-by to all thoughts 
of attending college now. 

‘‘Well, boys,” said Mr. Kingston when they 
had stood around in solemn silence a few mo- 
ments, “I sympathize with you in your disap- 
pointment, but I don’t see that we can do any- 
thing more. If the diamonds were here, they 
would in all probability be where they were 
marked on the paper.” 

“I suppose so,” replied Thad in a subdued 
voice, as with one accord they filed out of the 
cave. 

What a change their feelings had undergone 
in a brief space of time ! Jubilantly happy in 
the anticipation of untold wealth a few moments 
ago, and now, for the time at least, plunged into 
the depths of misery and dispair. 

The boys stood at the mouth of the cave a few 
moments, conversing in low tones; Tom stand- 


3o8 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


ing a little apart. In truth the boy was keenly 
disappointed, more so than his talk indicated. 
Boy-like he had been building air castles all the 
way down the river after he knew of the fortune 
in store for him. First he would get an educa- 
tion; then he could do something and be some- 
body in the world. Now his brief dream was 
over and he would go back in his father ’s black- 
smith shop and wear his life away shoeing 
horses. In spite of himself a tear rolled down 
his cheek. 

Thad saw it, as Tom hastily averted his face 
that his comrades might not see his weakness, 
and a feeling of the deepest pity took, possession 
of him ; he remembered that he had been the first 
to raise the hope in Tom ’s heart. As he gazed at 
his dejected-looking comrade, something came 
to Thad like a flash and he cried : 

‘‘Say, boys, maybe they are under the rocks. 
I remember the man said under the south wall, 
not hy the south wall. DonT let^s get discour- 
aged so easily. I am going to investigate along 
that wall if I have to blow it up with dynamite ! ^ ^ 

Mr. Kingston shook his head doubtingly. “I 
am afraid the rocks are solid, Thad. However, 
if you wish we will look again. ’ ^ 

Thad’s energetic words aroused a faint hope, 
as drowning men catch at straws, and they en- 
tered the cave again. 

“If we only had a broom to sweep the dirt and 
litter off these rocks we could tell whether there 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 309 


are any seams here; the dirt is so damp and 
sticky we can T clean it oft with the shovels thor- 
oughly, ’ ^ said Mr. Kingston. 

can run to the house and get one in ten 
minutes, ’ ^ cried Dick eagerly. 

^HTl go with you,^’ said Frank, and the two 
boys were oft like a shot. 

In an incredibly short time they were back 
with the broom, and Mr. Kingston swept the ex- 
posed stone clean as a floor. 

‘‘I see several seams, cried Dick after his 
father had swept the rocky floor. Meanwhile 
Thad had been studying the paper and compar- 
ing the location of the star with the wall. 
ought to be about here. Hold the lantern, Dick. ^ ’ 
A moment later Thad exclaimed in suppressed 
excitement : ‘ ‘ Hand me the crowbar. ’ ’ 

His father complied; and Thad, inserting the 
crowbar in a small niche, spit on his hands and 
prepared to lift the world if necessary. He 
surged backward with all his force, but hardly' 
had he expended the strength of a child, when 
the end of a rectangular-shaped stone flew up 
and Thad went over backward on a pile of damp 
earth, taking the crowbar along. He was on his 
feet in a second, but the stone had dropped to its 
place and grinned up at him innocently. 

Dick nearly dropped the lantern when the 
stone came up, and as Thad sprang to his feet, 
he exclaimed, his eyes blazing with excitement: 

^ ‘ Boys, there is a hole under this rock ; I saw 
it!’^ 


310 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Thad inserted the bar again, and quickly pried 
up the end of a stone fourteen by twenty-two 
inches in size, and about two inches in thickness. 
As he held it up with the bar, Mr. Kingston’s 
powerful arms quickly lifted the stone from its 
long resting place, and laid it back on the pile of 
soft earth. Five necks were craned to look into 
the dark hole, and five pairs of glistening eyes 
vainly tried to pierce the gloom. 

^‘Can you see anything Frank, who was in 
the rear, inquired anxiously. 

‘ ^ No, ’ ’ growled Dick. ‘ ‘ This confounded lan- 
tern isn’t any better than a lightning-bug.” 

Mr. Kingston scratched a match and held it 
down in the hole. 

‘ ‘ I see it ! I see a box ! I see a box ! ’ ’ yelled 
Dick exultingly, dropping the lantern and diving 
down head first into the dark hole just as the 
match in his father’s hands flickered out. Quick 
as a flash Mr. Kingston seized Dick by the back 
of the neck in a vice-like grip and lifting him 
bodily in his strong arms, bore him to the mouth 
of the cave ere the boy could raise a protest. 
The other boys quickly followed in terrified 
wonder ; for they feared Mr. Kingston had sud- 
denly taken leave of his senses. 

As they reached the air Thad cried anxiously : 
“What’s the matter, papa? Why did you act 
so with Dick, and why do you look so 
strange ? ’ ’ 

Mr. Kingston’s face was corpse-like in its pah 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 31 1 


lor, and liis powerful frame shook like a reed in 
the wind. By a strong effort of the will he re- 
gained his self-control and said quietly, as the 
blood once more came into his face : 

‘‘There was a rattlesnake coiled up on the 
box.^’ 

‘ ‘ For God ’s sake ! And Dick was going down 
head first onto him ! ’ ^ cried Thad with a shudder 
of horror, glancing fearfully into the cave as 
though half expecting to see the deadly rattler 
following them. Mr. Kingston, who had now 
thoroughly regained his composure, said : 

“I just caught a glimpse of it in time. Why 
did you do such a foolhardy thing, my hoy^ 
You always act on impulse and it will get you 
into serious trouble some day if you don ’t check 
it.’^ 

Dick was very penitent as well as thoroughly 
scared. He said in a contrite voice : 

“I know I do, papa; but I try to overcome it 
all I can. The sight of that box upset me so I 
hardly knew what I was doing. Boo! Think 
of poking your head in a rattlesnake ^s den. 
How would you like it, Frank 

“Please donT mention it. It makes me sick 
to think of it,’’ replied Frank with a shiver. 

‘ ‘ The next thing is to get a pole and kill that 
snake,” said Mr. Kingston, looking along the 
bluff. 

“Here is just the thing,” called Tom, coming 
up with a hickory pole about ten feet in length. 


312 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


‘‘Light the lantern again— if Dick didn’t 
smash it when he made that crazy dive,” said 
Thad. 

A match was scratched, and after a cautious 
look for snakes, the lantern, which was found 
intact, was relighted. Mr. Kingston flashed an- 
other match and held it down the hole. “Too 
late to kill that snake, boys ; he is just crawling 
off the box. 

“How are we to get the box up? Who will 
trust liis hand down there ? ’ ’ asked Dick. 

‘ ‘Nobody, ’ ’ replied his father coolly. ‘ ‘ There 
is a ring in the end; we will cut a forked stick 
and pull it up. ’ ’ 

The hole sloped back under the wall. About 
two feet below the slab and back under the wall, 
reposed a box about twelve inches square. 

“That snake did one good thing,” laughed 
Dick; “he took the wire edge otf of our excite- 
ment on finding this box. I was all worked up a 
few minutes ago and now I don’t care a cent 
whether there is one diamond or a bushel.” 

“I wouldn’t either if I had had as narrow an 
escape as you did, ’ ’ said Thad. 

With the aid of a forked stick the box was 
easily hauled up. Mr. Kingston then held a 
match down and explored the little recess with 
his eye, but nothing more was seen. 

“Notice how nicely this slab fits,” he ob- 
served, replacing it in its former position. “No 
wonder it was hard to find. ” 


FOljR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 313 


‘ ‘ This box isn T nearly so heavy as the other 
was, Dick,^’ Thad said, picking up the box and 
carrying it to the entrance. 

‘ ‘ From what I have read of diamonds, it 
doesnT have to be,’^ Dick replied, looking 
around wisely. 

Shall we take it home before opening it, 
boys 1 ^ ’ asked Mr. Kingston. 

‘‘Yes,^’ everybody cried. So taking it under 
his arm, Mr. Kingston started otf and the boys 
followed. 

‘^How do you feel now. Tommy?” Dick asked 
gleefully. 

Tom’s eyes were fairly dancing. “Better,” 
he replied quietly. 

On their arrival home there was little cere- 
mony in opening the box. Mr. Kingston cut it 
open with chisel and hammer. Inside was found 
another box— a much smaller one. This was 
also forced open. The boys took one look, and 
then everybody threw up his hat and shouted. 

Flashing and gleaming before them lay more 
diamonds than Thad, Tom, or Dick supposed 
were in the world. White diamonds, blue dia- 
monds, rose-colored diamonds; big diamonds, 
and little diamonds laughed and sparkled in the 
sunlight as though glad to be released from their 
long imprisonment. 

“Hurrah!” cried Dick, “that is a find for 
you ! I ’ll bet they are worth nearly as much as 
the gold we found,” 


314 FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Frank, wEo saw diamonds every day at home, 
laughed at Dick’s simplicity. 

‘‘I would like to buy diamonds of you, Dick. 
Why, here is one stone that is worth nearly that 
much,” holding up a large jewel that glinted 
and flashed in the sunshine. 

‘^The dickens you say!” and Dick’s mouth 
opened wide enough to take in a pumpkin. 

“From what I know of diamonds, they look 
like a remarkably fine lot, ’ ’ observed Mr. Kings- 
ton admiringly. 

^ ^ I am sure of it, ’ ’ Frank replied enthusiastic- 
ally. 

^ ^ The next question is, what are you going to 
do with them, boys? You can’t eat them.” 

“Sell ’em and pocket the money,” responded 
Dick promptly. 

“Sensible idea, but you can’t sell them here.” 

“I should say send or take them to 
Tiffany ’s, ’ ’ counseled Frank. 

“I suppose you could do better there,” said 
Mr. Kingston thoughtfully, ‘ ‘ but some one ought 
to be there to attend to the sale. ’ ’ 

^ ^ Papa would be glad to attend to it, I know, ’ ’ 
replied Frank. 

“I want mamma to have one for a diamond 
ring or brooch or something, ’ ’ said Dick. 

“Better sell them, Dick. Poor folks cannot 
afford to wear diamonds, ’ ’ laughed Mrs. Kings- 
ton, who was admiring the jewels with the 
others. 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 315 


will tell you a jolly plan if you can arrange 
it, ^ ^ cried Frank suddenly. 

^‘What is that!’’ asked Mr. Kingston. 

< ^ Why, you know Thad and Dick and Tom are 
going East to school anyhow, and if you can get 
a vacation, bring Mrs. Kingston along and pay 
us a visit. Then you and papa can see to dis- 
posing of the diamonds, and I will show the boys 
around town. ’ ’ 

‘‘Oh, won’t that be jolly!” cried Dick, clap- 
ping; his hands. 

“WTiat say you, mother, would you like the 
trip!” inquired Mr. Kingston, turning to his 
wife. 

“Very much, if you can get away.” 

‘ ‘ I can manage that I think, as it is the season 
when I generally take a vacation to shoot 
ducks.” 

And so it was arranged that the entire party 
should go East together, taking the diamonds 
with them. 

“How much do you think they are worth, 
papa!” asked Dick, pointing to the jewels. 

‘ ‘ I couldn ’t say , Dick, I never purchased 
many ; ask Frank, ’ ’ smiled Mr. Kingston. 

“Will the money we get for a fourth of them 
pay Tom’s way through college!” asked Dick, 
turning to Frank. 

Frank laughed. “I hope so. At a rough 
guess I should say there is not less than forty 
thousand dollars worth; perhaps more.” 


3i6 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


Dick nearly fell off Ms chair and Tom gasped 
at these figures. 

‘^And by the way, boys,’’ Frank continued, 
“I am not going to accept a fourth interest in 
them. ’ ’ 

‘^You aren’t! Why not!” gasped Dick in 
amazement. 

‘^Because,” replied Frank, flushing slightly, 
^^you boys need it more than I do'. I dislike to 
speak of private affairs, but will say here just 
between us, that I am worth a quarter of a 
million in my own right, inherited from my 
grandmother ; besides, papa is supposed to be a 
millionaire several times over. I hope you 
won’t think I am boasting, boys, but I thought 
it necessary to tell you this so you would under- 
stand why I think it wouldn’t be right for me to 
accept a share of the money we get for the dia- 
monds. ’ ’ 

^‘Of course we don’t,” replied Thad; ‘‘and 
so,” he added jokingly, “we have been enter- 
taining a millionaire.” 

“I hope I have acted like any one else,” said 
Frank modestly. 

“You have acted a darn sight better than 
most folks,” Dick burst out. 

Tom Evans was in a seventh heaven of joy. 
It was the first bit of good luck that ever blew 
his way. His family were rough, ignorant, 
hard-working people, who looked upon educa- 
tion as a luxury, instead of a necessary adjunct 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 317 

to civilization. Tom’s father was fond of say- 
ing: ^^Poor folks hain’t no nse fur eddycation, 
more’n to read and write. It don’t make their 
arms any stronger. I couldn’t shoe any more 
bosses if I had all the book lamin’ in the world. ’ ’ 

Tom, however, had vague longings for some- 
thing better and higher. He had helped his 
father in the shop since, as he expressed it, ^‘he 
was knee high to a bumlDle bee. ’ ’ First, switch- 
ing flies from the horses ; and thence grading up 
to the dignity of shoeing. How he hated it all. 
Three months schooling in the winter had been 
the extent of his educational advantages. And 
now he was to leave his drudgery and go away 
to school, and know something of the world. 
Small wonder he was happy. Of course he would 
have to start considerably below Thad and Dick 
in preparatory work, but he could make up for 
that in hard study. 

Everybody was pledged to secrecy over the 
diamonds, and the boys returned to unload the 
Greased Lightning. 

Tom noticed Frank admiring the panther 
skin, and said : 

‘^How would you like that for a rug, to re- 
member your trip by?” 

‘ ‘ First-rate. ’ ’ 

^‘Then take it.” 

^^But it is yours; you killed it,” said Frank. 

‘‘Take it before I do something desperate. 


3i8 four boys on THE MISSISSIPPI. 


lUs queer if I canT do anything for anybody/’ 
returned Tom. 

This appeal was too much, and Frank accept- 
ed the offering. 

Then Thad thought they ought to have some 
of the mink skins made into muffs, boas, etcet- 
era. It was finally decided to pack all the furs 
and ship them to Frank’s address, there to select 
what they wanted tanned and sell the rest. 

A week later, the Kingstons and Frank, con- 
voying the precious merchandise of diamonds 
and furs, started for New York. 

At the last moment Tom’s mother, who had 
been afflicted with a chronic ailment for years, 
became so much worse that it was known her 
days were few, and Tom decided to remain with 
her till the end. 

Ten days after his friends’ departure, Tom 
received a letter from Thad. 

We quote a passage or two: 

‘‘But I know you are boiling over to hear 
about the diamonds. They were more valuable 
than we thought. After keeping out a moderate 
sized one for each (including yourself) as a 
souvenir, we sold the others for sixty thousand 
dollars, and deposited the money in the bank. 
Your share is twenty thousa^id, as Frank 
wouldn’t take a cent. They are fine people, and 
not a bit stuck up or haughty, as I supposed 
millionaires were, especially at home. I wish 
you were here, Tom; you wouldn’t laugh at 


FOUR BOYS ON THE MISSISSIPPI. 319 


Frank in the woods any more. He knows every- 
thing about a city, while Dick and I are like blind 
puppies in a haymow. Come soon as you can, 
we want to have some fun with you. 

‘‘Yours truly, 

“Thad Kingston."' 

The End. 






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